The Trump administration is reportedly close to announcing a deal with drugmakers Eli Lilly (Zepbound) and Novo Nordisk (Wegovy) to significantly lower the cost of their popular GLP-1 weight loss medications for some consumers in exchange for limited Medicare coverage.
Key details of the reported plan include:
- Price Reduction: The lowest doses of Zepbound and Wegovy could be reduced to as little as $149 per month. These drugs currently have list prices over $1,000 per month.
- Medicare Coverage: In return for the lower prices, Medicare would begin covering the drugs for some beneficiaries, though which patients qualify is not yet clear. Medicare currently covers these types of drugs only for specific conditions like heart disease risk or sleep apnea, but generally not for weight loss alone.
- Scope: It is unclear whether the $149 price would apply broadly to private/public insurance or only to those paying with cash.
If finalized, this agreement would be a major outcome of President Trump’s “most favored nation” drug pricing initiative. Both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have confirmed they are in discussions with the administration, but offered no specific details.
Why does this matter to you: It is important to keep an eye on these price savings to determine how your patients can benefit from these savings, either via Medicare or insurance. Stay tuned for more on this ongoing story.
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