The news: The Trump administration is not proceeding with a Biden administration proposal to have Medicare and Medicaid cover GLP-1 medications for weight loss.
Catch up quick: Medicare is prohibited by law from covering anti-obesity medications for weight loss alone, though beneficiaries could get insurance coverage for some GLP-1s if prescribed for diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea. About three-quarters of US states don’t cover GLP-1s for Medicaid when used just for obesity, per KFF data as of August 2024.
Why it matters: Medicare and Medicaid GLP-1 drug coverage for weight loss would considerably drive down costs for patients but would cost the government billions each year.