Signs Point To Possible Future Medicare Coverage Of Obesity Meds

Obesity contributes to multiple diseases and conditions. Effective GLP-1 medications can lead to weight loss. However, their coverage by insurers, especially in the public sector (Medicare and Medicaid) is far from assured. getty

Signs are pointing in the direction of a near future in which Medicare beneficiaries will have at least some access to weight loss drugs. It’s a two-pronged approach, though both pathways are independent of each other. First, there’s a renewed bipartisan effort in Congress to lift the prohibition on coverage of obesity medications in Medicare. Second, the Trump administration announced the launch of a pilot project which could provide better access to obesity drugs. All things considered, however, getting the federal government program to pay for weight loss me