Trump Rejects Medicare Coverage for Wegovy and Obesity Drugs: What It Means for Patients

The Trump administration has officially rejected a Biden proposal to extend Medicare and Medicaid coverage for obesity drugs, a plan aimed at aiding millions. This bipartisan issue centers on Medicare’s longstanding prohibition against funding weight loss medications, originally set by the law establishing Part D. The Biden administration had suggested that these drugs treat obesity as a disease, which could open doors for broader access.

Projected costs for such coverage reached nearly $35 billion over a decade. Despite the significant budget implications, proponents argued that healthier patients could yield savings by reducing costly medical care later on. Medicare currently covers these drugs for seniors with diabetes or those with obesity combined with conditions like heart disease, affecting around 3.4 million potential new patients.

Industry leaders like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, which market popular drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic, continue to face scrutiny over pricing. Although state Medicaid programs can fund these treatments, many private insurers have opted out, driving some patients to cheaper, compound versions of the drugs. However, regulatory changes are phasing these alternatives out.

With ongoing debates surrounding drug costs and access, the future of obesity treatment under federal healthcare programs remains uncertain, leaving millions in need of effective solutions.