The Biden administration has proposed expanding Medicare and Medicaid coverage to include anti-obesity medications, such as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound. This initiative aims to recognize obesity as a treatable disease and would potentially make these medications accessible to 3.4 million Americans with Medicare and 4 million Americans with Medicaid who are living with obesity. The proposed expansion could reduce out-of-pocket expenses for some individuals by up to 95% and is estimated to cost taxpayers approximately $35 billion over the next nine years. The plan has garnered support from bipartisan members of Congress, including Representatives Gwen Moore and Raul Ruiz, and is seen as a significant step toward addressing obesity as a public health issue. Following the announcement, shares of weight-loss drug makers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly rose.
