Medicare covers Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and certain other medical conditions. Historically, Medicare hasn’t covered Ozempic — or any other prescription drugs — specifically for weight loss. However, a new program gives Medicare beneficiaries access to certain GLP-1 drugs for weight loss.
As of July 1, some forms of Wegovy, Zepbound and Foundayo will be available for $50 per month under the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program. You need a Medicare Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage to qualify.
The Bridge program ends Dec. 31, 2027. The potential for future Medicare coverage of GLP-1 weight loss drugs is murky.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is a brand name for semaglutide, a prescription medication manufactured and sold by Novo Nordisk. As an injection, it can help control blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Ozempic to treat Type 2 diabetes in December 2017. Currently, there isn't a generic version of the drug, and there might not be for some time. Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic patents expire as late as June 2033, according to data from the FDA.
Ozempic is probably the most recognized example of a GLP-1 drug. GLP-1s can treat diabetes and other conditions such as obesity and cardiovascular disease. There are a variety of other GLP-1 drugs and brand names from different manufacturers and/or for different conditions.
Compare Medicare Part D Plans
| Insurance company | NerdWallet rating | Out-of-pocket costs | Member experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower than average | 3 (Average) | ||
| Varies | 3.5 (Above average) | ||
| Average | 2 (Below average) | ||
| Average | 2.29 (Below average) |
Does Medicare cover Ozempic for diabetes?
Yes. Medicare prescription drug plans can cover Ozempic for diabetes. In 2024, Medicare covered Ozempic for nearly 2 million people, according to data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Ozempic falls under Medicare Part D because it’s an outpatient prescription drug. Coverage for Ozempic differs between plans.
If you have Original Medicare, you can buy a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan to get prescription drug coverage. If you have Medicare Advantage, most plans include prescription drug coverage. With Medicare Advantage, you cannot buy a separate Part D plan.
You’ll need to check your plan’s formulary to confirm if and how the plan covers Ozempic.
» MORE: Best Medicare Advantage plans
Does Medicare cover Ozempic for weight loss?
Medicare doesn’t cover Ozempic for weight loss. However, Medicare beneficiaries can access certain GLP-1 drugs for weight loss for $50 per month temporarily under the GLP-1 Bridge program.
GLP-1 weight loss drugs available under the Bridge program include certain forms of Wegovy, Zepbound and Foundayo. Wegovy has the same active ingredient as Ozempic and is FDA-approved for weight loss.
You must have a Medicare Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage to be eligible for the Bridge program. But technically, the GLP-1 weight loss drugs aren’t covered by your Medicare plan.
Because GLP-1 weight loss drugs come from a separate program, your $50 copay won’t count toward your Medicare Part D deductible or out-of-pocket spending cap.
How much does Ozempic cost?
Novo Nordisk’s list price for Ozempic is $1,027.51 per four weekly doses. For a full year, that would be over $13,000.
Ozempic isn’t available for $50 per month through the Bridge program. But the program does include Wegovy, Ozempic’s weight-loss counterpart.
The cost of Ozempic could be considerably lower on Medicare if it’s prescribed to treat diabetes — as long as you have a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan that covers Ozempic. You would just need to pay a copay or coinsurance and possibly a deductible. Exact costs vary by plan.
Does Medicare cover Wegovy?
Wegovy is available to eligible Medicare beneficiaries for $50 per month through the Bridge program from July 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027.
Wegovy isn’t covered for weight loss as part of Medicare plans’ regular coverage (outside of the Bridge program). However, CMS indicated that Medicare Part D can cover anti-obesity medications like Wegovy to “reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or non-fatal stroke) in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight” in guidance issued in March 2024.
If covered by your Medicare plan, out-of-pocket costs will vary by plan.
The list price for Wegovy is $1,349.02 per four weekly doses. For a full year, that would be slightly more than $17,500 without coverage.
Does Medicare cover Zepbound?
Zepbound is available to Medicare beneficiaries through the Bridge program from July 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027. Under the Bridge program, it costs $50 per month.
Outside of the Bridge program, Medicare plans don’t cover Zepbound for weight loss. However, as with other GLP-1 drugs, Medicare plans can cover it for other purposes. For example, Mounjaro has the same active ingredient as Zepbound, and is approved to treat diabetes, certain cardiovascular diseases and sleep apnea.
If covered by your Medicare plan, out-of-pocket costs will vary by plan.
The list price for Mounjaro is $1,112.16 per four weekly doses. For Zepbound, it’s up to $1,086.37 per four weekly doses. For a full year, either would cost over $14,000 at list prices.
Shopping for Medicare Part D plans? We have you covered.
| MEDICARE PART D covers outpatient prescription drugs for people on Medicare. Compare options from our Medicare Part D roundup. | |
| Best for low premiums | Best for low out-of-pocket costs |
| Best for generic drugs | Best for low deductibles |
What’s next for Medicare’s coverage of weight loss drugs?
Medicare plans don’t cover drugs used for weight loss alone. But because the Bridge program isn’t technically “coverage,” it can help Medicare beneficiaries access certain weight loss drugs until Dec. 31, 2027. At that point, Medicare beneficiaries lose their access to $50 GLP-1 weight loss drugs.
CMS and Medicare insurance companies haven’t commented on the details of future GLP-1 coverage possibilities. CMS says it will gather data and share information with insurance companies about the Bridge program to help determine what comes next.
Help paying for Ozempic and other weight loss drugs on Medicare
Because Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound are still under patent protection, there’s no option to buy a cheaper generic version. That doesn’t leave you without options though, even if Medicare doesn’t cover your prescription.
If you’re prescribed one of these drugs for diabetes or cardiovascular disease, consider looking for a plan with good coverage for the drug during Medicare open enrollment. Medicare.gov and shopping tools from many insurance companies and brokers can show how plans would cover specific drugs.
If you’re looking to take Ozempic or other weight loss drugs for weight loss alone, you can always talk to your doctor about more affordable treatment options.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.
- 1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Orange Book: Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations. Accessed Jun 25, 2026.
- 2. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Part D Spending by Drug. Accessed Jun 25, 2026.
- 3. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: GLP-1 Drugs for $50 a Month. Accessed Jun 25, 2026.
- 4. Novo Nordisk. Find Out the Cost for Ozempic. Accessed Jun 25, 2026.
- 5. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Part D Coverage of Anti-Obesity Medications with Medically Accepted Indications. Accessed Jun 25, 2026.
- 6. Novo Nordisk. Wegovy. Accessed Jun 25, 2026.
- 7. Eli Lilly. Pharmaceutical Product Prices. Accessed Jun 25, 2026.
