Medicare to Offer Weight-Loss Drugs for $50 Monthly Starting in July

Medicare announced that older adults will be able to obtain Wegovy and Zepbound for weight loss at a cost of $50 per month beginning in July. The agency has been advertising the coverage option but has not released estimates of the total expense to taxpayers, who will cover most of the cost.

Background on the Coverage Change Medicare previously limited coverage of the drugs to specific medical conditions. The new policy expands access for weight-loss treatment alone. The agency has not responded to repeated inquiries about projected spending under the expanded benefit.

In a separate development, Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against UnitedHealth alleging fraud in the state's Medicaid plans for seniors. The complaint centers on billing practices within those plans.