Overview
- The Medicare GLP‑1 Bridge starts Wednesday, July 1, 2026, and will run through Dec. 31, 2027 to provide select weight‑loss GLP‑1 drugs to qualifying Part D enrollees.
- To get coverage patients must be enrolled in Medicare Part D, meet BMI and clinical criteria, obtain a prescription, and receive prior authorization from CMS before the $50 copay applies.
- The program covers Wegovy, Zepbound (KwikPen) and Foundayo in eligible formulations and is processed through a separate CMS pathway rather than beneficiaries’ regular Part D plans.
- Because Bridge operates outside standard Part D rules, the $50 monthly payment does not count toward Part D deductibles or annual out‑of‑pocket limits and does not qualify for Extra Help subsidies.
- Analysts estimate about 3.8 million Medicare beneficiaries meet full eligibility and project federal costs ranging from roughly $1.3 billion to $10 billion depending on uptake, while providers and pharmacies race to build prior‑authorization and claims workflows and public awareness remains low.