Biden proposes requiring Medicare and Medicaid to cover weight loss drugs

Nov 26, 2024

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Shea Taylor (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

As President Joe Biden wraps up his term, his administration is proposing that Medicare and Medicaid cover popular weight loss medications. The new rule would dramatically expand access to anti-obesity drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro.

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As of now, Medicare and Medicaid only cover these drugs if they’re prescribed to treat certain conditions like diabetes. This new proposal could provide coverage for patients looking to use them exclusively for weight loss.

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The change would dramatically reduce out-of-pocket costs for the drugs, which can cost more than $1,000 for a month’s supply, according to the White House. The CDC estimates more than 40% of Americans are considered obese and could benefit from these drugs.

The new rule would expand access to the drugs for 3.4 million Americans who use Medicare and another 4 million people enrolled in Medicaid, White House officials said.

Tags: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health, Health Care, Insurance, Joe Biden, Medicaid, Medicare, Ozempic, Weight Loss, White House

AS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WRAPS UP HIS TERM – HIS ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID TO COVER POPULAR WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS.

THE NEW RULE WOULD DRAMATICALLY EXPAND ACCESS TO ANTI-OBESITY DRUGS LIKE WEGOVY, OZEMPIC AND MOUNJARO.

AS OF NOW – MEDICARE AND MEDICAID ONLY COVER THESE DRUGS IF THEY‘RE PRESCRIBED TO TREAT CERTAIN CONDITIONS LIKE DIABETES… BUT THIS NEW PROPOSAL COULD PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR PATIENTS LOOKING TO USE THEM EXCLUSIVELY FOR WEIGHT LOSS.

THE CHANGE WOULD DRAMATICALLY REDUCE OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS FOR THE DRUGS – WHICH CAN COST MORE THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A MONTH’S SUPPLY, ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

ACCORDING TO THE C-D-C – MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF AMERICANS ARE CONSIDERED OBESE AND **COULD** BENEFIT FROM THESE DRUGS.

THE NEW RULE WOULD EXPAND ACCESS TO THE DRUGS FOR 3 POINT 4 MILLION AMERICANS WHO USE MEDICARE AND ANOTHER 4 MILLION PEOPLE ENROLLED IN MEDICAID, WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAID.

Biden proposes requiring Medicare and Medicaid to cover weight loss drugs

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