Medicare offers $50 GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to millions through a 2026–2027 Bridge program

Medicare's short-term GLP-1 Bridge program (July 2026–Dec 2027) will allow up to 14 million overweight beneficiaries to obtain weight-loss GLP-1 medications (Zepbound, Foundayo, Wegovy) for a $50 monthly copay, with Ozempic excluded; eligibility requires 65+ age and BMI criteria (BMI 35+ or 27+ with obesity-related conditions) and Part D enrollment, plus a doctor’s prior authorization via Humana. The initiative hinges on insurer participation for a longer-term rollout and carries an estimated price tag of billions through 2034; it does not include counseling components, and weight regain may occur after stopping the drug.