Overview
- German law §34 SGB V excludes drugs used mainly for weight loss from reimbursement, so statutory insurers do not cover Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro for that purpose.
- An endocrinologist interviewed by FAZ said one year on these drugs is a bad plan because weight often returns after stopping, and many patients likely need three to five years of treatment.
- People who use the injections for weight loss usually pay out of pocket, with monthly pharmacy costs reported at roughly €170 to €500 plus doctor visits, while private insurers only reimburse in documented medical-necessity cases.
- Politicians are split on changing the rules as a Bundestag petition seeks coverage, and a leading sickness fund put a nationwide reimbursement price tag at up to €45.8 billion a year.
- The medicines curb appetite by slowing stomach emptying and boosting fullness signals, but doctors warn about nausea, digestive upset, fatigue, and rare pancreatitis, so medical oversight is advised.