Medicare Will Cover GLP-1s for Obesity Under Deal with Pharma
Medicare will cover semaglutide and tirzepatide for their weight management indications for people with obesity, President Trump announced November 6.
According to a fact sheet released by The White House, “The prices of Ozempic and Wegovy will fall from $1,000 and $1,350 per month, respectively, to $350 when purchased through TrumpRx. The price of Zepbound and Orforglipron, if approved, will fall from $1,086 per month to an average of $346 when purchased through TrumpRx.”
The fact sheet added that if the US Food and Drug Administration approves the oral pill formulation of semaglutide or other oral GLP-1 drugs, “the initial dose of those drugs will be priced at $150 per month through TrumpRx.”
The White House statement further detailed the changes to prices for Medicare beneficiaries. “The Medicare prices of Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound will be $245, less than half the prices proposed by the Biden Administration on such drugs. State Medicaid programs will also have access to these medications at these prices. These low prices will enable Medicare to cover Wegovy and Zepbound for patients with obesity and related comorbidities for the first time. Medicare beneficiaries will pay a co-pay of just $50 per month.”
In its own announcement, Lilly explained that beginning “as early as April 1, 2026, Medicare beneficiaries will pay no more than $50 per month for Zepbound (tirzepatide)”. Novo Nordisk announced that semaglutide will receive Medicare Part D coverage “enabled through a pilot program designed to cover a majority of Part D beneficiaries.”
Both firms stated that they will receive three years of tariff relief; Lilly also note that the company “will not be subject to future pricing mandates.”
Although Medicare has covered these drugs for diabetes, the program has not paid for drugs indicated for weight loss alone. Since 2024, Medicare has covered the weight-loss formulations of GLP-1s under its Part D drug program only if the recipients had a separate FDA-approved indication, such as preexisting heart disease or moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.
Recent studies have indicated that GLP-1s show benefit in not only type 2 diabetes, cardiac disease, and weight loss, but also for treatment of fatty liver disease, kidney disease, psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis—conditions that are ameliorated by reduction in body weight.
Sources:
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump announces major developments in bringing most-favored-nation pricing to American Patients. The White House; November 6, 2025. Accessed November 6, 2025. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/11/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-announces-major-developments-in-bringing-most-favored-nation-pricing-to-american-patients
Lilly and U.S. government agree to expand access to obesity medicines to millions of Americans. News release. Eli Lilly & Co. November 6, 2025. Accessed November 6, 2025. https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-and-us-government-agree-expand-access-obesity-medicines
Novo Nordisk announces agreement with the U.S. Administration to bring GLP-1s to more Americans at a lower cost. News release. Novo nordisk. November 6, 2025. Accessed November 6, 2025. https://www.novonordisk.com/content/nncorp/global/en/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=916450
