Novo Nordisk sells some of the most expensive blockbuster drugs in America, from Ozempic and Wegovy to Tresiba and Victoza, and the Novocare patient assistance program is one way the company provides certain medications free of charge to patients who cannot afford them. The Novocare patient assistance program (branded as the Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program, or PAP) is income-based and separate from NovoCare’s commercial savings cards and self-pay pharmacy. It is a manufacturer charity program, not health insurance, and knowing which track you qualify for can save you thousands of dollars per year. For broader context on prescription assistance, see our healthcare costs guide. This article is educational and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Novo Nordisk; program rules change, so treat everything below as a starting point and verify the current criteria directly with NovoCare.
Two Different Programs Under the NovoCare Umbrella
NovoCare is Novo Nordisk’s support hub, and it contains several distinct offerings that patients often confuse. The first is the NovoCare Savings Card, which lowers copays for commercially insured patients — for example, as little as $25 for Ozempic, low or $0 amounts for Wegovy when a plan covers it, or reduced copays for Victoza, Tresiba, and NovoLog. This is a commercial discount, not free medication, and it is generally not available to patients on Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, or VA benefits because of federal anti-kickback rules.
The second is the Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program (PAP), which provides free medication to qualifying patients through their prescribers. The PAP is the real “assistance” program most uninsured or underinsured patients are searching for when they type “Novocare patient assistance program” into Google. A third track — the NovoCare self-pay pharmacy — sells some products at a flat cash price to people who do not use insurance. Everything that follows refers to the PAP unless noted otherwise.
What Changed for 2026
Novo Nordisk revised its PAP rules for 2026, and the changes matter. The headline change is a stricter, drug-specific income test for Ozempic: uninsured patients now must have household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level to receive Ozempic through the PAP, rather than the 400% cap that applies to most other Novo Nordisk products. Separately, Medicare beneficiaries who have Part D prescription drug coverage are no longer eligible to get Ozempic through the PAP, because Novo Nordisk states that the large majority of Medicare enrollees already have plan access to it. These thresholds and eligibility rules can shift again, so confirm the current criteria before applying.
Who Qualifies for the Novocare Patient Assistance Program
To receive free Novo Nordisk medication through the PAP, patients generally must meet several core criteria published at NovoCare.com. You must be a US citizen or legal resident. You must be uninsured or have Medicare (private or commercial insurance disqualifies you and directs you to the Savings Card instead). You must not be enrolled in or eligible for another federal, state, or government program such as Medicaid, the Medicare Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help), or VA benefits.
Income limits are tied to the federal poverty level (FPL). Under the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines, 100% FPL is $15,960 for an individual and $33,000 for a family of four in the contiguous states. That means the 400% FPL ceiling that applies to most Novo Nordisk products works out to roughly $63,840 for an individual and about $132,000 for a family of four, while the tighter 200% FPL ceiling for uninsured Ozempic is roughly $31,920 for an individual and about $66,000 for a family of four. These are approximate 2026 figures; verify the exact current thresholds and the drug-specific rules on the PAP page, because Novo Nordisk can update them mid-year.
Which Medications Are Covered
The Novocare patient assistance program covers a selection of Novo Nordisk branded products that generally do not have generic equivalents. Historically covered drugs have included Ozempic, Rybelsus, Victoza, Saxenda, Wegovy, Levemir, Tresiba, NovoLog, Fiasp, Xultophy, and growth hormone products such as Norditropin. Not every strength or device version is automatically included, and the list changes as products are discontinued or launched, so the current product list — published as a PDF on the PAP page — is the only authoritative source.
The most current list lives on the NovoCare PAP website. For 2026, uninsured patients who are approved are generally enrolled for 12 months, while approved Medicare patients are enrolled through the end of the current calendar year, after which you reapply.
How to Apply Step by Step
The application process typically takes about two to four weeks from a complete submission to a decision. First, obtain the Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program application from NovoCare.com, or call 1-866-310-7549 to have one mailed to you. You complete the patient section with personal, income, and insurance information, and you sign an authorization allowing Novo Nordisk to verify your income.
Your prescribing physician completes the prescriber section with the diagnosis, medication name, strength, dose, and quantity — the program is prescriber-directed, so you cannot enroll without a clinician. Both sections must be submitted together per the instructions on the current form (by fax or mail, depending on the version). You will also need proof of income, such as a recent tax return (Form 1040), recent pay stubs, or a signed attestation if you have no documentable income.
Novo Nordisk reviews the application and notifies you and your prescriber of approval or denial. Approved medication is generally shipped to the prescriber’s office, and in some cases to the patient’s home, per the program’s current fulfillment process. Call the number above to check status if you have not heard back within about 30 days.
What to Do If You’re Denied or Ineligible
Patients who fall outside the income caps, who lose PAP Ozempic eligibility as a Medicare enrollee, or who have commercial insurance with high deductibles still have options. Commercially insured patients should start with the NovoCare Savings Card. If you do not use insurance, NovoCare Pharmacy sells some products at a flat self-pay cash price — for 2026, Wegovy is priced at about $349 per month across doses, and Ozempic self-pay runs roughly $349 to $499 per month depending on the dose. Those are far below typical cash pharmacy list prices that can exceed $1,000, though exact prices vary and should be confirmed at checkout. People who need Novo Nordisk insulin can use the MyInsulinRx program, which caps eligible monthly insulin cost at $35; the $35 insulin cap and the self-pay GLP-1 prices are not available to people with Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, or VA benefits.
If you are on Medicare and do not qualify for the PAP, apply for the Medicare Extra Help program through the Social Security Administration, which can reduce Part D costs significantly, and consider the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (sometimes called M3P), which spreads your annual Part D out-of-pocket costs — capped at $2,100 in 2026 — across monthly installments instead of large upfront charges. Third-party nonprofits such as the Patient Access Network Foundation (panfoundation.org), the HealthWell Foundation, and NeedyMeds.org maintain directories of disease-specific copay assistance; grant availability opens and closes throughout the year.
How NovoCare PAP Differs From GoodRx and Discount Cards
NovoCare PAP gives qualifying patients free medication. GoodRx, SingleCare, and ScriptSave WellRx give you a cash discount you still have to pay. For branded Novo Nordisk drugs, discount-card savings are usually modest, so a month’s supply of a drug like Ozempic can still cost hundreds of dollars even after the coupon. That is useful but nowhere near free, and for many GLP-1s the manufacturer’s own self-pay price now undercuts typical discount-card prices.
If you are truly unable to pay and meet the criteria, the PAP is the preferred route. If you are insured but facing a high copay, start with the NovoCare Savings Card. If you fall in between, compare the NovoCare self-pay price against discount cards. Our GoodRx explained article and Tresiba PAP guide compare these paths in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Novocare patient assistance program really free?
For patients who qualify, yes — approved applicants receive their Novo Nordisk medication at no cost, and there is no application fee. The program is funded by Novo Nordisk. It is charitable assistance rather than insurance, and enrollment is time-limited, so you must reapply periodically.
How long does the Novocare PAP application take?
Most complete applications are processed within about two to four weeks. Incomplete applications take longer. Call NovoCare at 1-866-310-7549 to check status if you have not heard back within 30 days.
Can I get Wegovy through the Novocare patient assistance program?
Wegovy may be included on the PAP product list for patients who meet income and insurance criteria, but approvals for weight-management products can be inconsistent, and the list changes. Many people who do not qualify use the NovoCare self-pay price (about $349 per month in 2026) instead. Confirm current details on the PAP page.
Do I need a doctor to apply?
Yes. The program is prescriber-directed: your prescribing clinician must complete and sign the prescriber section, and approved medication is often shipped to the prescriber’s office, so ongoing coordination with your doctor is required.
Does the Novocare patient assistance program accept Medicare patients?
It depends on the drug. For 2026, Medicare beneficiaries with Part D coverage are no longer eligible to get Ozempic through the PAP, though certain Medicare insulin patients at or below 400% FPL may still qualify for insulin. Most Medicare patients are better served by applying for Extra Help or using the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
Is NovoCare the same as insurance?
No. NovoCare programs are manufacturer assistance and self-pay options, not insurance. They do not replace comprehensive coverage, and eligibility can end when your circumstances or the program rules change.
TL;DR: The NovoCare Patient Assistance Program ships select Novo Nordisk medicines free to qualifying uninsured (and some Medicare) patients. For 2026, uninsured Ozempic requires income at or below 200% FPL while most other products stay at or below 400% FPL, and Medicare Part D enrollees are no longer eligible for Ozempic through the PAP. Rules, forms, and thresholds change frequently — verify current criteria at NovoCare.com and apply with your prescriber.
This article is for general education only and is not medical, financial, or insurance advice, and it is not affiliated with Novo Nordisk. It cannot confirm your eligibility. Talk with your prescriber and confirm program details directly with NovoCare before making decisions about your medication.
The Bottom Line
The Novocare patient assistance program provides free Novo Nordisk medications to qualifying uninsured and certain Medicare patients, subject to income limits that were tightened for 2026 — most products at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, but uninsured Ozempic now at or below 200% FPL. Apply directly at NovoCare.com or by calling 1-866-310-7549, attach proof of income, and coordinate with your prescriber, who must sign the form. If you have commercial insurance, use the NovoCare Savings Card; if you do not use insurance, compare the NovoCare self-pay price and the $35 MyInsulinRx insulin cap; and if you are on Medicare, look into Extra Help and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. Because manufacturer rules change often, always verify the current criteria before you apply.
Sources
- NovoCare — Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program (PAP) eligibility and application, novocare.com/diabetes/help-with-costs/pap.html
- NovoCare — MyInsulinRx program terms and $35 insulin cap
- NovoCare — self-pay pharmacy pricing for Wegovy and Ozempic (2026)
- HHS 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines, Federal Register (January 2026)
- Social Security Administration — Medicare Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy)
- CMS — Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (2026 Part D out-of-pocket cap)