Medicare Now Helps Pay for Obesity Drugs: The New 50 Dollar GLP-1 Bridge
Starting July 1, 2026, many people on Medicare can get obesity medicines for a flat 50 dollars per month. The program is called the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, a temporary demonstration run by Medicare (CMS) that lasts through December 31, 2027. It covers Zepbound (tirzepatide), Wegovy (semaglutide) including the Wegovy pill, and Foundayo. Until now, standard Medicare drug plans generally did not pay for medicines used only for weight loss, so this is a meaningful change.
Not everyone qualifies. You generally need to be enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan and meet health rules: a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher; or a BMI of 30 or higher with heart failure, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or chronic kidney disease; or a BMI of 27 or higher with pre-diabetes, a past heart attack or stroke, or symptomatic peripheral artery disease. Your plan must also approve the prescription in advance (prior authorization).
The 50 dollars monthly cost stays the same no matter which phase of your drug benefit you are in. One catch: that 50 dollars does not count toward your Part D deductible or your yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Also, the extra help for low-income beneficiaries (the Low-Income Subsidy) does not lower the price further in this program.
If you think you qualify, talk to your doctor about whether one of these medicines is right for you, and ask your Part D plan how to start the prior authorization. The program is a pilot, so details can change. This is general information, not medical advice.