Joe Biden Pushes for Medicare & Medicaid Coverage Of Weight Loss Drugs Like Wegovy & Ozempic

Joe Biden

Joe Biden Pushes for Medicare & Medicaid Coverage Of Weight Loss Drugs Like Wegovy & Ozempic

Millions of Americans with obesity could soon have access to popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Ozempic through Medicare or Medicaid under a new proposal from the Joe Biden administration. The rule, announced Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, could cost taxpayers up to $35 billion over the next decade.

“It’s a good day for anyone who suffers from obesity,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said. “It’s a game changer for Americans who can’t afford these drugs otherwise.”

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has advocated for this coverage, arguing it could save billions in future healthcare costs related to obesity.

However, the measure faces opposition, including from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken critic of the drugs, who could block it if appointed to lead the agency under President-elect Trump.

Under the proposal, only those with a body mass index of 30 or higher would qualify. While some individuals may already receive coverage if they have conditions like diabetes, the proposal would recognize obesity as a treatable disease, enabling Medicare to cover the drugs.

* Should Medicare cover weight-loss drugs?*