Medicare's $50 GLP-1 Plan Targets Seniors, But With Limitations

Medicare launches an 18-month GLP-1 Bridge program outside Part D to offer eligible beneficiaries $50-a-month copays for certain weight‑loss drugs (Foundayo tablets, Wegovy, Zepbound) ending Dec 31, 2027. Eligibility is based on BMI and specific health conditions, and prescriptions can be issued even if the doctor doesn’t take Medicare, but some diabetics and individuals with sleep apnea or fatty liver may still face higher costs under Part D. Medicare covers about $245 of the drug cost minus the $50 copay, potentially leaving a total outlay of up to roughly $900 over 18 months for a participant, with no low-income subsidy. Total taxpayer cost is projected at $1.3 billion to $10 billion depending on uptake. The program could boost access but may strain clinics and lacks long-term funding certainty.