Trump officials plan coverage for weight loss drugs under Medicare and Medicaid | Trump administration
The Trump administration plans a pilot program that will cover “miracle” weight loss drugs under the government health insurance systems for low -income people and retirees, Medicaid and Medicare, with a movement aiming to combat the US chronic obesity problem.
Donald Trump was previously proposed by Biden administration in the last months before he re -entered the White House after winning a second term in the 2024 elections.
Now, Trump Management, Medicaid program and Medicare Drug scope plans are planning a five -year experiment that will have the option to meet the cost of the drugs sold under the names of Özempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound for “weight management” purposes. Washington reported post Friday morning, the government’s Medicare and Medicaid Service Centers (CMS) documents were referred to.
This type of drug known as GLP-1 drugs and initially developed for Type 2 diabetes treatment has gained popularity for the ability to reduce body weight by suppressing and slowing digestion.
However, high costs, which are usually between 5,000 and 7,000 dollars a year, increased concerns about long -term receipt, and a plan that is currently considering Donald Trump would face a heavy cost for the public wallet.
For such drugs, the scope of insurance has been typically approved when patients have other cases due to obesity such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
The proposed new plan will allow Medicaid programs to voluntarily cover GLP-1 drugs, including market leaders Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
Lilly and Novo are leaders in the drug market, which some analysts expect that they can generate more than $ 150 billion up to ten years. Lilly’s shares increased by 2% in the premmarket trade on Friday.
The initiative is scheduled to begin for Medicaid in April 2026 and Medicare in January 2027. If it cleanses the path, the management will change in federal politics after saying that the programs will cover the weight loss drugs of programs earlier this year.
Medicare & Medicaid Services Centers did not respond to Lilly and Novo Reuters’ request for comments.
The plan can reveal the part between CMS Baş Mehmet Oz and Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy JR, who praised such drugs before, and criticizes high costs and how not them It replaces a healthy lifestyle.
