Medicare and Medicaid will cover Ozempic and Wegovy under Biden administration's proposal for GLP-1 drugs to combat obesity.

The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed a new plan to expand coverage of anti-obesity drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, according to a White House official.

According to the official, Medicare only covers GLP-1 medications for people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease with obesity, or overweight. However, some state Medicaid programs cover these medications for obesity, while many do not.

The new HHS proposal mandates that Medicare and Medicaid provide drug coverage for individuals with obesity as a treatment for the condition.

The White House announced on Tuesday that a new proposal would increase access to innovative medications for obesity, which affects an estimated 3.4 million Americans with Medicare. Medicare coverage would significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for these prescription drugs for some enrollees, by as much as 95 percent.

The proposal would enable 4 million adult Medicaid enrollees to access new medications, allowing Americans and their doctors to make informed decisions about their health, reduce out-of-pocket costs, and ultimately lower healthcare expenses for the nation.

According to the White House, many Americans cannot afford critical treatments due to their high cost, which can amount to $1,000 per month without insurance coverage.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are frequently used to manage type 2 diabetes by maintaining stable blood glucose levels or to aid in weight loss in individuals with obesity.

According to Dr. Alfred Bonati, founder of the Bonati Spine Institute in Florida, these medications slow down digestion, causing food to remain in the stomach for a longer period.

An estimated 42 million Americans have obesity, which increases their risk of all-cause mortality and multiple related comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, some cancers, and more, according to the White House.

The White House announced that recent scientific advancements in obesity treatment have led to the development of new life-saving drugs. These anti-obesity medications can prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes and reduce the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular outcomes by up to 20%.

Planet Chronicle’ Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.