Opinion: Cost isn’t the only reason Medicare doesn’t cover Wegovy
Cost isn’t the only reason why Medicare doesn’t cover weight loss drugs.
Few medications have captured the national attention like Wegovy — and for good reason. In a country with a well-documented obesity epidemic, Wegovy and other members of a new type of weight-loss drug are highly effective: In clinical trials, people on Wegovy typically lose 15% of body weight, and a similar medication, retatrutide, has shown up to 24% weight loss. There is now evidence that they confer benefit beyond weight loss, including a recent large clinical trial demonstrating protection against cardiovascular disease.
Yet Medicare does not cover Wegovy, or any other weight loss prescription. State Medicaid programs may decide to cover weight loss drugs, and only a fairly small number currently offer Wegovy.
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