Medicare Expansion for Weight Loss Drugs

The Biden administration has proposed expanding Medicare and Medicaid coverage to include weight loss drugs, which could benefit approximately 7.5 million Americans. Currently, such drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovi, are not covered and could lead to substantial costs for the government, with estimates suggesting this plan might result in billions of dollars in expenditure. Health officials describe this expansion as a necessary move to treat obesity as a chronic disease despite warnings about dangerous side effects associated with these medications. The incoming administration, under Trump, will have the discretion to either implement or reject this proposal.