Trump Administration Weight Loss Drug Pilot: Medicare & Medicaid Coverage for Ozempic, Wegovy in 2026-2027 - GLP-1 Costs, State Participation & Obesity Treatment Policy
Trump Administration Weight Loss Drug Pilot: Medicare & Medicaid Coverage for Ozempic, Wegovy in 2026-2027 - GLP-1 Costs, State Participation & Obesity Treatment Policy Key Takeaways Medicare and Medicaid will launch voluntary pilot coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs ( Ozempic , Wegovy , Zepbound , Mounjaro ) starting 2026-2027 . The 5-year experiment requires participating plans to include structured diet/exercise coaching alongside medication . Current rules exclude weight loss drug coverage under Medicare, with limited Medicaid exceptions (13 states) . Annual costs per patient range $5,000-$7,000, projected Medicare spending could hit $35B by 2034 . Internal Trump administration conflict exists: CMS’s Mehmet Oz supports coverage, while HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticizes costs . The Policy Shift Hits Like a Diner Coffee at 3 AM Medicare, Medicaid plans to experiment with covering weight loss drugs The Trump administration...