Tag: Wegovy

Obesity Crisis Meets Policy Standstill as Trump Halts Medicare Expansion

Ester Adams
Medicare’s role in weight-loss drug coverage

Trump Administration Reverses Plans to Expand Medicare Coverage for Obesity Drugs The Trump administration has officially halted a Biden-era initiative that aimed to extend Medicare and Medicaid coverage to include obesity drugs, a move set to impact millions of Americans coping with obesity, disproportionately affecting seniors and lower-income groups. While supporters saw the proposed expansion as a progressive step towards tackling one of the nation’s most pressing health challenges, critics have raised concerns over the potential cost burden. Below, we untangle the implications of this decision, exploring its economic, medical,…

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Why New Insurance Rules Could Make Weight Loss Treatments Harder to Access

Nordstrom
weight loss medications

Independence Blue Cross Restricts Weight Loss Drug Coverage Starting January 1, 2025, Independence Blue Cross (IBX), the largest health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania, will no longer cover certain weight loss medications, including GLP-1 receptor agonists like Wegovy and Ozempic, when prescribed solely for managing weight. The company will continue covering these medications for individuals with FDA-approved conditions such as Type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. This change impacts both group and individual commercial plan holders, shifting the full cost of these drugs—ranging from $700 to $1,350 per month—to patients who…

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Government vs. Private: Who’s Really Paying for Your Weight-Loss Meds?

Logan B.
Weight-Loss Meds

In recent years, weight-loss meds like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound have gained significant attention in the United States. These drugs belong to a class known as GLP-1 medications, primarily developed for diabetes management but increasingly used for weight loss. As demand for these treatments rises, understanding the landscape of insurance coverage for these drugs becomes crucial for consumers. Weight-Loss Meds Insurance Coverage Overview Insurance coverage for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is complex and varies significantly across different plans. While government-funded programs like Medicaid and those covering federal, state,…

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The High Cost of Health: Who Gets Weight Loss Prescriptions?

Angela Linders
The High Cost of Health

Disparities in Weight Loss Prescriptions The disparity in access to medications like Wegovy, Rybelsus, and Ozempic highlights a significant issue within the U.S. healthcare system. Despite the increasing medical applications of these drugs, which include managing diabetes and potentially preventing heart disease and stroke, many insurers remain reluctant to cover them for weight loss. Medicare, for example, is legally barred from covering weight-loss drugs unless the patient presents serious health risks. This limitation leaves over two-fifths of American adults who are obese but otherwise healthy without coverage options. Federal spending…

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Many health insurance plans still won’t cover Wegovy despite new approval

H. Cutner
Health insurance - RX Meds Denied

Even though the drug has received approval for heart wellness use, not just weight loss, it’s frequently not covered. In the United States, Wegovy was previously only approved for use as a weight loss drug and was commonly not covered by health insurance plans.  Now, the headline-making drug has also been approved in the country for heart health, but this isn’t expected to broaden availability for its coverage. The Novo Nordisk drug is taken by injection on a weekly basis As a prescription weight loss drug – one of only…

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Health insurance plans frequently deny new weight loss medication claims

H. Cutner
Health Insurance declined - weight loss medication

Patients are finding that the drugs they were hoping would help them fight obesity might not be an option. Obesity patients prescribed new weight loss medications are discovering that the drugs they were counting on to help them to reduce their BMI often aren’t covered by their health insurance plans. Medications such as Wegovy have been making headlines since they received FDA approval. Many obesity patients who were desperate for a new option to try to treat their disease were thrilled when they heard that there were new medications available.…

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Health insurance could soon cover weight loss drug Wegovy

G. Turner
Health Insurance - Pills wrapped in measuring tape

Novo Nordisk announced that the highly popular drug could have expanded FDA approval in six months. Novo Nordisk recently announced that its headline-making weight loss drug Wegovy could receive expanded US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval within six months, opening the door to much more readily available coverage by health insurance plans. The drug is already highly sought-after, but is not necessarily covered by most policies. Novo Nordisk’s chief financial officer Karsten Munk Knudsen said that the company’s application for approval of Wegovy as a cardiovascular disease reduction medication…

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