Medicare to Cover Weight Loss Drugs for Adults 65 and Older Starting Next Month
The Trump administration will extend a transitional program called Bridge to provide coverage through the end of next year after private insurers declined to join a planned three-year demonstration.
nbcnews.comWeight loss drugs will be available to adults 65 and older in Medicare for the first time next month under a demonstration program run by the federal government. Medicare is prohibited by law from paying for obesity drugs. The Trump administration is circumventing that prohibition by using a demonstration program to make the drugs available.
Medicare initially planned a three-year program called BALANCE to encourage private Medicare insurers to voluntarily cover weight loss drugs. The federal government is instead extending the transitional coverage program called Bridge until the end of next year.
The program is described as temporary, though officials have noted it may be difficult to end. The changes were reported June 15, 2026, by John Wilkerson, Washington Correspondent for STAT.
