{"id":723703,"date":"2026-06-24T19:44:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T19:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/723703\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T19:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T19:44:13","slug":"wegovy-zepbound-50-glp-1-drugs-are-coming-for-medicare-recipients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/723703\/","title":{"rendered":"Wegovy, Zepbound: $50 GLP-1 Drugs Are Coming for Medicare Recipients"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"OlderShare on Pinterest<\/a>An estimated 14 million Medicare Part D recipients could obtain Wegovy, Foundayo, and Zepbound for $50 per month. Johner Images\/Getty ImagesFederal officials announced the launch of a Medicare GLP-1 Bridge pilot program that reduces the cost of certain GLP-1 medications prescribed for weight loss.Under the program, Wegovy, Foundayo, and Zepbound KwikPens will cost $50 per month for eligible participants enrolled in Medicare Part D plans.The program begins on July 1 and continues through Dec. 31, 2027.<\/p>\n

Some Medicare recipients will soon be able to purchase a limited number of GLP-1 weight loss drugs at a guaranteed price of $50 per month.<\/p>\n

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced the formation of the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge<\/a> pilot program, which begins on July 1 and lasts until December 31, 2027.<\/p>\n

Under the pilot project, people enrolled in Medicare Part D<\/a> who have been prescribed certain GLP-1 medications will be able to purchase those drugs for $50 per month.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s estimated that around 14 million people<\/a> in the United States could be eligible under the pilot program.<\/p>\n

Federal officials note that in the past, Medicare has not covered medications prescribed for weight loss. The pilot program lifts that restriction.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese treatments are a major medical advancement, but too many seniors are currently unable to access them due to high cost,\u201d Mehmet Oz<\/a>, MD, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cThe Medicare GLP-1 Bridge changes that by making these medications more affordable and accessible, while advancing our broader goal of helping Americans live healthier lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Medicare Bridge program follows the launch last year of a Trump Rx program<\/a> to lower the cost of GLP-1 medications and other higher-cost drugs.<\/p>\n

To be eligible<\/a> for the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, a person must be at least 18 years old and be treated with the GLP-1 medication for weight loss and weight management.<\/p>\n

Zepbound single-use pens and vials will be not be covered.<\/p>\n

To be prescribed these medications, a person must meet one of the following criteria:<\/p>\n

Recipients who utilize the bridge pilot program will not be eligible for this current coverage.<\/p>\n

The $50 copays do not count toward the annual Part D deductible<\/a>, which can be up to $615<\/a> for 2026. These payments also won\u2019t count toward the yearly Part D out-of-pocket spending cap, which is $2,100 in 2026.<\/p>\n

The cost<\/a> of GLP-1 medications ranges from $149 per month from certain self-pay options to $1,349 per month.<\/p>\n

Experts who spoke to Healthline said the Medicare pilot program will be helpful to a certain portion of the Medicare population.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest benefit of this program is increased access,\u201d said Kanwar Kelley<\/a>, MD, a specialist in otolaryngology head and neck surgery, obesity medicine, and lifestyle medicine, and the chief executive officer of Side Health in Orinda, CA.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese medications are a breakthrough for clinically significant weight loss for the improvement of conditions that are related to obesity<\/a>,\u201d Kelley said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, in my practice, there are individuals that simply cannot afford the cost of these medications, even when insurance pays some of the cost. The bridge program, if it reaches its goal, will provide a road for patients to get started on these medications and get the help they need,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe this is a viable option for Medicare patients seeking these types of medications,\u201d said Mir Ali<\/a>, MD, a bariatric surgeon, bariatric medicine specialist, and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe primary benefit is the significant reduction in out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Meredith Freed<\/a>, a senior policy manager with KFF\u2019s Program on Medicare Policy, agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOverall, the new GLP-1 Bridge is good news for people with Medicare who might benefit from taking GLP-1s to treat obesity but who have been unable to access these medications due to Medicare\u2019s coverage restrictions or the relatively high cost of these drugs,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt $50 per month, these drugs would be within reach for many more Medicare beneficiaries than they are today,\u201d Freed added.<\/p>\n

The experts who spoke with Healthline expressed concerns about the program\u2019s limitations.<\/p>\n

One of the main issues, they said, is the project\u2019s 18-month duration.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith a time limit on the program, patients that are started on the medication may not be able to continue enjoying the discounted prices and may face increase costs or stopping the medication altogether,\u201d said Kelley. \u201cStopping the medication abruptly may lead to weight regain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis appears to be a temporary solution that requires the participation of insurance companies to be feasible,\u201d said Ali. \u201cA long-term solution may not be available for several years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Freed said the fact the $50 co-payments don\u2019t count toward Medicare deductibles or out-of-pocket spending caps could pose some issues.<\/p>\n

She added that the restriction on recipients who are already covered for other uses of GLP-1s could be problematic, but agreed the program\u2019s time limit is a major concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis raises the possibility that people could gain access to these medications in the second half of 2026 and in 2027, only to lose access to them in 2028,\u201d Freed said.<\/p>\n

Kevin Schulman<\/a>, MD, a professor of medicine at Stanford University, said that the federal government will subsidize the medications covered under the bridge plan. He said Medicare officials will need to decide if this program is worth the expenditure.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the end, this program will provide an interesting real-life experiment assessing the benefit of improving access to GLP-1s on overall healthcare spending,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

GLP-1 medications<\/a> work by suppressing a person\u2019s appetite and managing their blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n

They have been approved by federal regulators as treatments for weight management as well as type 2 diabetes. Some are administered as weekly injections, and others are taken daily as an oral tablet.<\/p>\n

Research has indicated that GLP-1 medications may also be beneficial<\/a> for improving heart health<\/a> and cognition.<\/p>\n

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Experts say it\u2019s important for people using GLP-1 medications to understand that they need to adjust lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise<\/a>, to achieve and maintain weight loss.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven with GLP-1 medication, lifestyle modification remains the most important aspect to weight management,\u201d said Kelley. \u201cWhile the medications can really jump-start weight loss, changing habits is essential to maintaining those losses and remaining at a healthy weight<\/a>. Nutrient-dense food choices, physical activity, strength training<\/a>, and sleep are critical.\u201d<\/p>\n

The information on this website may assist you in making personal decisions about insurance, but it is not intended to provide advice regarding the purchase or use of any insurance or insurance products. Healthline Media does not transact the business of insurance in any manner and is not licensed as an insurance company or producer in any U.S. jurisdiction. Healthline Media does not recommend or endorse any third parties that may transact the business of insurance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Share on PinterestAn estimated 14 million Medicare Part D recipients could obtain Wegovy, Foundayo, and Zepbound for $50…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":723704,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[97,243],"class_list":["post-723703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-medication","tag-health","tag-medication"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723703","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=723703"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/723703\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/723704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=723703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=723703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=723703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}