Skip to main content
Drug Info

5 Januvia savings tips

How to lower your Januvia costs with or without insurance
SingleCare logo
By | Mar. 10, 2025 Medically reviewed by Karen Berger, Pharm.D.
A piggy bank and a stethoscope: 5 Januvia savings tips

Key takeaways

  • Januvia is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor drug that’s FDA approved for treating Type 2 diabetes.

  • The average cost of Januvia is around $754 per month without insurance, coupons, or other assistance. However, it’s typically covered by private insurance and Medicare prescription plans, although out-of-pocket costs will vary by plan.

  • Uninsured patients who meet certain criteria can get Januvia for free by enrolling in the MerckHelps assistance program.

  • Other reliable money-saving strategies include using a SingleCare prescription discount card, changing insurance plans, asking about a 90-day supply, and looking into other types of government support.

In this article:

Treating diabetes isn’t a simple one-and-done affair. It’s an everyday effort that requires a multifaceted approach, including monitoring blood sugar, eating well, staying active, and taking medications. That’s why, for people with diabetes, drugs like Januvia (sitagliptin) can be a huge help. Januvia increases the body’s insulin production, lowering blood sugar levels and making diabetes a lot more manageable.

Like many prescription drugs, Januvia isn’t exactly cheap if you’re paying entirely out of pocket. But there are several reliable ways to save, even if you don’t have insurance.

How much does Januvia cost?

Without help from an insurance company or any other sources, the average retail price of Januvia is around $754 per bottle of 30 tablets. At that price, treatment is more than $25 per day, and over a full year could add up to over $9,000.

Fortunately, that price isn’t set in stone. Many private insurance and Medicare prescription plans will cover Januvia, although the coverage and terms can vary based on the insurance plan. Some might require prior authorization, which is the insurance provider’s way of ensuring the prescription is medically necessary. This process could require the healthcare provider to submit documentation that Januvia is necessary. The insurance company could also require step therapy, where you try other (typically less expensive) medications first.

The amount of coverage can vary too, based on how your insurance provider classifies Januvia. Formularies—lists of covered drugs—group medications into tiers, with generics on the lower tiers and brand-name drugs on the middle and higher tiers. Typically, Januvia is somewhere in the middle, so it might not receive as comprehensive coverage as a generic drug would.

Can I get Januvia for free?

Yes. Individuals who meet certain income requirements can get free Januvia through the MerckHelps program. Developed by Januvia’s manufacturer, Merck, this patient assistance program provides free medications to people who don’t have insurance and need help covering their costs.

To qualify, applicants must:

  1. Be a U.S. resident and have a Januvia prescription from a healthcare professional who’s licensed in the United States
  2. Not have drug coverage from private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, or help from any other assistance or social service programs
  3. Have a household income of less than $62,600 for individuals, less than $84,600 for couples, or less than $128,600 for a family of four

Anyone who meets these requirements can enroll online or print and mail an application from the MerckHelps website.

How to save money on Januvia

Insurance and MerckHelps aren’t the only ways to save money on Januvia prescriptions. Far from it, actually. Here are a few other ways to decrease out-of-pocket costs.

1. Get free Januvia coupons

SingleCare offers discounts on thousands of prescription drugs, including Januvia. These discounts can take Januvia’s average $754 cash price and drop it as low as $286. Signing up is free, and all you have to do is present the SingleCare card at a participating pharmacy. Just know that these prices can vary by location and pharmacy and based on the prescription’s strength and quantity.

You can use SingleCare even if you have insurance or Medicare, but you have to use either SingleCare or insurance coverage—you can’t use them both together. So you can ask your pharmacist to compare SingleCare prices to your insurance copays to see which is cheaper.

2. Ask about a 90-day prescription

In certain cases, 90-day prescriptions can lead to lower costs and higher adherence. These larger prescriptions aren’t ideal for every situation, though. For example, David Nazarian, MD, founder of My Concierge MD, says 90-day refills can be less expensive per pill but also have higher upfront costs. Plus, he says that some insurance plans only cover 30-day prescriptions.

That said, larger prescriptions might be helpful for some patients, so it could be worthwhile to ask your healthcare provider about it.

3. Consider different insurance plans

For people who don’t have insurance, it can be a reliable way to save on recurring prescription costs. For people who already have insurance, it may be worthwhile to consider a different plan during Open Enrollment. Every plan is different, and some might provide better Januvia coverage than others. 

4. Research Medicare Extra Help and Medicaid

Extra Help is a program for people who have drug coverage through Medicare Part D but still need assistance paying for their medications. Medicaid is funded jointly by the federal and state governments, and it’s available to anyone who meets their state’s requirements—even if they don’t have Medicare. Individuals who qualify for Extra Help will often also qualify for Medicaid, depending on state-specific criteria.

5. Compare prices

Prescription medication prices can vary significantly between pharmacies—even pharmacies in the same area. In fact, a 2019 study from the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups found patients could save $102–$5,400 per year by shopping around for the lowest price. 

Is there a cheaper alternative to Januvia?

There’s a long list of diabetes medications on the market, and depending on your prescription, insurance plan, and other circumstances, some of them might be less expensive than Januvia or have better insurance coverage (i.e., be on a lower tier in the drug formulary). 

However, each drug has pros and cons, and each is ideal for certain patients or situations. Dr. Nazarian says the benefits of Januvia include a low risk of hypoglycemia and other side effects and that it will not cause weight loss or gain. “The cons of Januvia include only a 0.5%–1 % reduction in A1C, while other alternatives including GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., Ozempic, Trulicity, and Victoza), SGLT2 inhibitors (e.g., Jardiance and Invokana), and insulin (e.g., Lantus and Novolog) have an A1C reduction of 1%–2%.”

Some common Januvia alternatives include single-ingredient or combination drugs with one or more of the following ingredients:

This isn’t an exhaustive list of Januvia alternatives, and no matter what the Internet or your insurance provider says, remember this: Your healthcare provider knows which medication is best for your particular condition, so always follow their specific medical advice and treatment plan.

Sources