Squawk Pod Elon Musk’s Trillion Dollar Pay Plan & Obesity Drug Pricing 11/7/25
Nov 7, 2025
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former heart surgeon and health policy expert, dives into the White House's recent deals to lower GLP-1 obesity drug prices, highlighting the significant savings for Americans. He explains the disparities in drug pricing and the administration’s strategies to align U.S. costs with global standards. Oz also addresses the balance between pharma innovation and affordability. Additionally, Musk biographer Walter Isaacson discusses Tesla’s unprecedented $1 trillion pay package, evaluating Musk's history of exceeding expectations.
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U.S. Pays Far More For Same Drugs
- The U.S. pays roughly three times more for identical drugs than other countries, a problem the administration calls "global freeloading."
- Negotiated deals aim to align U.S. prices with global rates to reduce total healthcare spending.
Obesity Drives Large Health Costs
- Treating obesity broadly reduces multiple downstream conditions and overall healthcare spend.
- Oz estimates obesity explains about a quarter of total U.S. healthcare costs.
Cut Copays To Expand Access
- Reduce patient out‑of‑pocket costs to broaden access and cut downstream health expenses.
- Medicare copays set to $50 and Medicaid coverage free aim to make GLP‑1s affordable and cost‑neutral within two years.
