Victoza (liraglutide) was Novo Nordisk’s first GLP-1 receptor agonist, approved for type 2 diabetes in 2010. Newer drugs like Ozempic have largely overshadowed it, and branded Victoza has historically carried a high retail price – estimates commonly land somewhere in the four-figure range per month, though the exact cash price varies by pharmacy and changes over time, so treat any single number as an estimate. The Victoza patient assistance program, part of the broader Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program (NPAP), has provided medication at no cost to qualifying patients who meet income and insurance requirements. Two important updates make this program worth re-checking rather than assuming: Novo Nordisk revises its covered-product list and income rules each year, and generic liraglutide is now available, which changes the math for many patients. Our healthcare costs guide covers more prescription savings strategies. (For transparency, this site is not affiliated with Novo Nordisk; verify all current details directly with NovoCare.)
What the Victoza Patient Assistance Program Provides
The Novo Nordisk PAP has historically shipped covered medication at no cost to qualifying patients or to their prescriber’s office periodically, typically in prefilled multidose pens, with no shipping or administrative fees. The program is funded directly by Novo Nordisk as part of its corporate patient assistance commitments, not through a third-party foundation. Because manufacturers periodically adjust which products are on the PAP formulary, confirm that Victoza specifically is currently covered before you rely on the program – Novo Nordisk has indicated that some medicines change status from year to year.
Historically, the same NPAP application has also covered other Novo Nordisk products, including certain GLP-1 medications and insulins. If your prescriber has you on more than one Novo Nordisk product, you may be able to apply for them together on a single form – but again, the exact list of covered products for the current year should be verified on the NovoCare product list or by phone.
Who May Qualify for the Victoza Patient Assistance Program
NPAP has generally used a set of core eligibility criteria, and applicants must meet all of them. First, you typically must be a US citizen or legal resident with a valid prescription from a licensed US clinician. Second, your household income must fall at or below the program’s threshold. For many products that threshold has been up to 400% of the federal poverty level, but Novo Nordisk has applied different limits to different products (for example, a lower threshold for some medications), so verify the current figure for Victoza. As a reference point, the 2026 federal poverty guideline is $15,960 for a single-person household and $33,000 for a family of four in the contiguous states, which puts 400% at roughly $63,840 and $132,000 respectively – use these as a rough guide and confirm the exact program cutoff.
Third, you generally must be uninsured, or, if you have Medicare Part D, meet the program’s Medicare-specific spending and Extra Help conditions. Fourth, commercially insured patients have typically not been eligible for NPAP; Novo Nordisk has directed them to the NovoCare savings card instead. Medicaid enrollees are usually excluded because Medicaid already covers the medication. These rules can change, so treat the above as a general framework and confirm the current criteria before applying.
How to Apply for the Victoza Patient Assistance Program
Processing generally takes a few weeks from a complete submission to a first medication shipment. Begin at NovoCare.com, find the Patient Assistance Program section, and download the application form, or call 1-866-310-7549 to request a paper copy by mail. Complete the patient section with your demographic information, household size, income, and insurance status, and sign the authorization for income verification.
Your prescribing clinician completes the prescriber section with your diagnosis, the prescription details (dose and quantity), and a signature. Both sections generally must be submitted together. Include proof of income, typically a copy of your most recent IRS Form 1040 or recent pay stubs. Patients with no documentable income can often submit a signed attestation letter explaining their financial situation.
Submit the completed application by the method the form specifies – commonly fax, mail, or a secure upload portal. Novo Nordisk reviews the application and notifies you and your prescriber of the decision. Because forms, fax numbers, and portals can change, follow the instructions printed on the current-year application rather than an older copy.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify for NPAP
Commercially insured patients excluded from NPAP have generally been directed to the NovoCare savings card, which can lower out-of-pocket costs for eligible patients with commercial coverage. Enroll at NovoCare.com and verify current terms, because savings-card amounts and eligibility change. The card typically applies at most retail pharmacies when the prescription is processed through commercial insurance first.
Medicare Part D enrollees generally cannot use manufacturer copay/savings cards because of federal anti-kickback rules, but they benefit from the redesigned Part D benefit. For 2026, the Part D annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,100, which includes covered spending on drugs like Victoza. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P) also lets Part D patients spread that out-of-pocket amount over monthly installments across the year at no extra cost, per CMS. Note that the $35 monthly insulin cost-sharing cap does not apply to Victoza, because Victoza is a GLP-1 medication, not insulin.
Generic Liraglutide and Cash-Pay Options
Discount platforms such as GoodRx, SingleCare, and WellRx offer coupons that can trim the cash price of branded Victoza, though the discount on a high-cost brand is often modest in percentage terms. Compare a few before you fill, because the lowest price moves around by pharmacy and ZIP code.
The bigger shift is generics. Liraglutide, the active ingredient in Victoza, has lost patent protection, and the FDA approved generic liraglutide injection – the first generic arrived in 2024. As generic supply expands, generic liraglutide is generally sold at a lower price than branded Victoza, which can change your best option entirely. If cost is a concern, ask your prescriber whether generic liraglutide is clinically appropriate for you and whether to write the prescription for the generic. Availability, manufacturers, and pricing of generic liraglutide continue to evolve, so verify current options at your pharmacy. Our NovoCare PAP guide and Tresiba PAP guide cover parallel Novo Nordisk programs.
What to Do If You’re Denied for NPAP
Patients denied for NPAP typically fall into one of three categories: household income above the program threshold, commercial insurance coverage, or Medicare Part D without meeting the program’s Medicare conditions. For each, the alternative is different. Commercially insured patients should look at the NovoCare savings card. Medicare Part D patients should lean on the 2026 Part D out-of-pocket cap and the M3P payment plan.
Patients who are above the income threshold and uninsured have the hardest path. Options include asking the prescriber about generic liraglutide, using discount coupons (GoodRx, SingleCare, WellRx), and checking nonprofit foundations such as the Patient Access Network Foundation (panfoundation.org), which sometimes maintain disease-specific diabetes funds when open. NeedyMeds.org aggregates patient assistance resources across drugs and manufacturers. Fund availability changes frequently, so check current status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Victoza patient assistance program really free?
For patients who qualify and whose product is currently covered, NPAP has provided medication at no cost, with no application or shipping fees, funded directly by Novo Nordisk. Because covered products and rules change yearly, confirm that Victoza is currently on the program list before assuming it is free.
How long does it take to get approved for the Victoza PAP?
Most complete applications are processed within a few weeks. Incomplete applications or missing documentation can extend the timeline. Call 1-866-310-7549 if you have not heard back after several weeks, and confirm the office received all pages.
Can I get Victoza for free if I have Medicare?
Medicare Part D patients may be able to apply to NPAP if they meet the program’s Medicare-specific spending and Extra Help conditions – verify the current rules. Many Medicare patients are better served by the 2026 Part D $2,100 out-of-pocket cap and the M3P monthly payment plan. Your plan and a licensed benefits counselor can help you compare.
Is generic liraglutide cheaper than branded Victoza?
Generally, generic liraglutide is priced below branded Victoza, though exact prices vary by pharmacy and change over time. For a qualifying patient, an NPAP-covered product at no cost can still be the cheapest route; for someone who does not qualify, generic liraglutide is often the more affordable option. Ask your prescriber and pharmacist to compare your specific situation.
Does the Victoza patient assistance program cover Saxenda?
Saxenda also contains liraglutide (the same active ingredient as Victoza, at a different dose and with a weight-management indication) and has historically been part of the same NPAP. Whether a given product is covered can change year to year, so confirm the current list. Decisions about which medication is right for you belong with your clinician.
The Bottom Line
The Victoza patient assistance program, part of the Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program, has provided medication at no cost to uninsured and certain Medicare patients who meet income and other requirements. Apply at NovoCare.com or call 1-866-310-7549, coordinate with your prescribing clinician, and submit proof of income – after confirming that Victoza is currently covered and checking the current income threshold. Commercially insured patients should look at the NovoCare savings card, Medicare patients should use the 2026 Part D out-of-pocket cap and M3P payment plan, and patients who do not qualify can ask their prescriber about generic liraglutide as a lower-cost alternative to branded Victoza.
TL;DR & disclaimer: The Victoza patient assistance program (part of Novo Nordisk’s NPAP) may provide medication at no cost to qualifying uninsured or Medicare patients, but covered products and income rules change yearly – verify current eligibility and that Victoza is on the list. Generic liraglutide is now available and may be cheaper if you do not qualify. This is a manufacturer program, not insurance; the $35 insulin cap does not apply because Victoza is not insulin.
This article is general information, not medical or financial advice, and this site is not affiliated with Novo Nordisk, NovoCare, GoodRx, or any manufacturer. Do not start, stop, or change liraglutide or any diabetes medication without your prescriber. Confirm current program terms, income limits, prices, and drug availability directly before relying on them.