Does Medicare Cover Weight-Loss Drugs?

Here's the short answer. Starting July 1, 2026, Medicare covers certain GLP-1 weight-loss drugs — Wegovy®, Zepbound® (KwikPen® only), and Foundayo® — for a flat $50 copayment per month. The coverage comes through a temporary program called the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, which runs through December 31, 2027. To use it, you need Medicare drug coverage (Part D), you must be 18 or older, and you must meet health rules based on your body mass index (BMI).

What the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Is

The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge is a short-term test program run by CMS, the federal agency that manages Medicare. It runs from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027, in every state and U.S. territory. It covers these drugs:

• Foundayo® (tablet)
• Wegovy® (injection or tablet)
• Zepbound® (KwikPen® only — the program does not cover single-dose Zepbound® vials or pens)

The program works outside your regular Part D drug plan. Your drug plan does not have to opt in — if you qualify, you can use the program no matter which Part D plan you have.

Who Qualifies

You must have Medicare drug coverage. That can be a standalone drug plan (PDP), a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage, a Special Needs Plan, an employer or union group waiver plan, or the LI NET program. You must also be 18 or older and meet one of these when you start GLP-1 therapy:

• A BMI of 35 or higher, on its own.
• A BMI of 30 or higher plus at least one of: diastolic heart failure, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or chronic kidney disease at stage 3a or higher.
• A BMI of 27 or higher plus at least one of: prediabetes, a past heart attack or stroke, or blocked leg or arm arteries (peripheral artery disease) with symptoms.

Some people are not eligible for the Bridge program:

• If your Part D plan already covers your GLP-1 drug, you keep getting it through your plan instead.
• If you have type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea, or fatty liver disease, you can't use the Bridge — but your Part D plan may cover a GLP-1 drug for those conditions.

What You Pay

You pay a $50 copayment at the pharmacy for a one-month supply (28 or 30 days, depending on the drug). Because a separate Medicare program pays for the drug — not your regular drug plan — the $50 works differently than your normal copays:

• It does not count toward your Part D deductible or yearly out-of-pocket limit.
• Extra Help and other low-income programs can't lower it.
• You can't spread it over the year with the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
• It won't show up on your Part D Explanation of Benefits or Medicare Summary Notice.

How to Get Started

1. Talk with your doctor. Ask whether a GLP-1 drug makes sense for you and whether you meet the program's health rules.
2. Your provider sends a prescription for a covered GLP-1 drug to your pharmacy and, when asked, completes a prior authorization form. Your provider must certify that you're using the drug as part of a lifestyle program focused on diet and exercise.
3. Watch the mail. You'll get a letter confirming your drug is covered under the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge.
4. Fill your prescription and pay $50 for each monthly supply. Your approval stays valid — including refills and dose changes — through December 31, 2027, unless you change drugs.
5. Questions? Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048) to check your eligibility or the status of a prior authorization.

Common Questions