Trump Administration Rejects Medicare Coverage for Anti-Obesity Drugs

The decision halts a Biden-era proposal to expand access to costly weight-loss medications, citing fiscal concerns and maintaining existing restrictions.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicare will not cover anti-obesity drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound under the Trump administration's policy.
The Biden administration's proposal aimed to classify obesity as a chronic disease, expanding drug coverage to over 7 million Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated the proposed expansion would cost $35 billion over nine years, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability.
Currently, Medicare covers GLP-1 medications for diabetes and heart disease but prohibits coverage for drugs used solely for weight loss.
CMS indicated it may revisit the issue in the future, pending further review of the drugs’ benefits and financial impacts on federal and state budgets.