WASHINGTON – in a move aimed at lowering healthcare costs, President Donald Trump announced an agreement Thursday with pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to considerably increase access to popular weight-loss drugs Zepbound and Wegovy. The deal will expand coverage for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as individuals without insurance.
The agreement addresses longstanding concerns about the high cost - approximately $500 per month for the highest doses – and limited insurance coverage of GLP-1-based medications.Starting next year, federal programs will broaden coverage for obesity treatments, with reduced prices becoming available to uninsured patients over time. A new pill version of these treatments, pending approval, will be priced at $149 a month for all Medicare and Medicaid enrollees, and will also be available through the White House’s new direct-to-consumer website, TrumpRx.
the initiative will impact nearly half of americans covered by Medicare (age 65+) and Medicaid (low-income individuals). as part of the agreement,the pharmaceutical companies will receive a duty exemption. this announcement represents the latest effort by the Trump management to address rising drug prices and alleviate concerns about the cost of living for voters.
