The Trump administration has indefinitely postponed a Medicare pilot program intended to provide coverage for weight-loss drugs.
The program, previously planned as the 'Medicare GLP-1 Bridge' short-term demonstration starting July 1, 2026, aimed to cover GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound for obesity at a $50 copayment for eligible beneficiaries.
Earlier announcements from CMS outlined the Bridge program running through December 31, 2026 or 2027, bridging to the multi-year BALANCE Model in 2027, but the indefinite delay overrides these plans.
Medicare is statutorily prohibited from covering weight-loss drugs under standard Part D benefits due to the 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug Act.
Eligibility for the now-delayed program was based on BMI of 35+ or 27+ with comorbidities.