Medicare has delayed its BALANCE pilot program requiring insurers to cover GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, after major insurers declined to participate.
Instead, a 'bridge program' will offer Medicare enrollees access to discounted GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound for a $50 monthly copay from July 2026 to December 2027.
The indefinite delay raises uncertainty about permanent Medicare coverage, but analysts suggest broad access to these drugs will be difficult to reverse in the future.
Why are insurers rejecting a government plan designed to lower drug costs for seniors?
After the government's temporary weight-loss drug plan ends, what's next for seniors?
Is the government's direct payment for weight loss drugs a sustainable healthcare strategy?
With millions on GLP-1s changing their diets, which food companies will survive the shift?
Can Amazon's new low-cost model for obesity drugs disrupt the entire pharmaceutical industry?
With oral pills now available, how quickly will these weight loss drugs become a household staple?