Up to 14M Medicare patients could be eligible for GLP-1s for just $50 a month heres who qualifies

Millions of Medicare patients will be eligible for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy at a cut-rate $50 per month under an upcoming government program.Up to 14 million Medicare recipients are overweight and could qualify for the discounted drug program — known as the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge — which rolls out July 1 and continues through 2027.It’s part of a program President Trump announced in November to drastically lower drug costs for Americans, with the president striking a deal with some of the leading GLP-1 makers to provide the drugs at a low “most favored nation” rate.Ozempic retails for more than $1,000 a month, and the weight-loss variant of the drug, Wegovy, is listed for $1,350.There are some work-arounds to save money, but no cheap generic versions because they are still new medications under patent.That makes the GLP-1 Bridge program a rare opportunity for people to get their hands on the weight-loss drugs at a small fraction of the usual price.Here is everything you need to know about the new program.GLP-1 prescriptions were previously available for Medicare patients dealing with conditions like diabetes, sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disease — but were not available for weight loss, the treatment that’s made headlines as patients shed dozens of pounds on the drug.The Medicare Bridge widens which Medicare users qualify for GLP-1 prescriptions — making prescriptions available for patients who want to take it for weight loss.This program is a short-term pilot to gauge the feasibility of a larger program — accounting for the “Bridge” part of the title.A permanent plan for GLP-1s could begin rolling out in 2028.The Bridge program runs from July 1, 2026, to Dec.

31, 2027.It remains unclear if it will continue after 2027, as the Bridge program’s purpose is to see how much demand there will be for GLP-1s so insurance companies can gauge whether they will participate.Insurer participation is vital to make a long-term GLP-1...