Insurers Push Back on Medicare Coverage for Weight-Loss Drugs

Health plans are urging the Trump administration to reject a proposal from the final days of the Biden presidency that would require Medicare and Medicaid to cover anti-obesity drugs, including popular GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Ozempic, Axios reports.

The insurers argue that the expanded coverage would lead to higher premiums for consumers, while proponents say it could improve health outcomes and potentially reduce long-term costs.

The decision, expected in April, will serve as a key indicator of which health care interests hold sway with President Trump, as many providers, patients and pharmaceutical companies support Medicare coverage for these weight-loss drugs.

The Biden administration’s proposal aimed to reinterpret long-standing Medicare rules prohibiting coverage of most weight-loss medications, coming at a time of surging demand for GLP-1 drugs. The outcome of this policy debate could significantly impact access to these medications for millions of older Americans struggling with obesity.