NewsMV
The federal government launched a pilot program on July 1 capping out-of-pocket costs for select GLP-1 weight-loss drugs at $50 a month for qualifying Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries — a shift that could reshape access for roughly 10 million overweight or obese seniors currently enrolled in the program.
The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge covers Eli Lilly's Foundayo tablets and Zepbound KwikPens along with Novo Nordisk's Wegovy injections and tablets, marking the first time GLP-1 medications will be covered by insurance solely for weight loss.
The temporary program runs through the end of 2027.
From $1,600 to $50: The Cost Cliff Drops Before the Bridge program, seniors paid between $1,350 and $1,650 per month for Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (semaglutide) and roughly $1,086 monthly for Eli Lilly's Zepbound (tirzepatide), though both manufacturers offered some cash-pay arrangements that reduced costs for eligible patients.
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