Key facts
- Medicare has launched the GLP-1 Bridge program, offering select weight loss drugs for $50 per month.
- The temporary program is available to Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older until the end of 2027.
- Eligibility requires a BMI of 35 or higher, or 27 or higher with a qualifying health condition.
- Foundayo, Wegovy, and Zepbound are the covered medications.
- The program aims to improve access to expensive GLP-1 drugs for older adults.
Medicare has launched a pilot program, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, offering select GLP-1 weight loss drugs for $50 per month to eligible beneficiaries aged 65 and older. This temporary initiative, set to run until the end of 2027, aims to make expensive medications more accessible, with eligibility requiring a BMI of 35 or higher, or 27 or higher with a qualifying health condition. Individuals already receiving these drugs for conditions like diabetes or sleep apnea are not eligible for this specific program. Covered medications include Eli Lilly's Foundayo and Zepbound, and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy. Doctors acknowledge the potential benefits but express concerns about the program's administration, the efficiency of prior authorizations, and the uncertainty of what happens after the program ends, as obesity is a chronic condition. Millions of older adults struggle with the high cost of these drugs, which have proven effective for many in managing weight and improving health markers.