This is an important distinction for adults age 65 and older who have a high burden of both obesity and cardiovascular disease. Eligible Medicare beneficiaries can now access Wegovy® injection and pill for a $50 monthly copay† through the program, which runs through the end of 2027.
"For many older Americans living with obesity, this is a moment they and their families have been waiting for. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program offers a new, affordable path to an FDA-approved treatment that was previously not covered," said Jamey Millar, Executive Vice President, US Operations of Novo Nordisk.
"The fact that Wegovy® is the only weight loss medicine proven to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death in patients with known heart disease and obesity makes this access moment particularly important for eligible Medicare beneficiaries. We are committed to helping patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals navigate this program with confidence."
The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge is available nationwide across all states and territories. To access Wegovy® through the program, eligible Medicare beneficiaries can take these steps:
- Talk to your doctor. Ask whether Wegovy® is right for you and if you may qualify for the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge.
- Your doctor will send a prescription to your pharmacy and submit the necessary prior authorization to CMS when requested by the pharmacy on your behalf.
- Pick up your medication at your pharmacy and pay $50 for a one-month supply.† Once approved, refills do not require a new prior authorization as long as you stay on the same GLP-1 medication.
The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge provides eligible patients access to Wegovy® specifically for weight management. It is important to note that Wegovy® will remain available for eligible Medicare beneficiaries for other FDA-approved indications through their normal Part D benefits, including to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established CV disease with either obesity or overweight.
"The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program is a significant step forward for people living with obesity who have long faced barriers to access under Medicare," said Joe Nadglowski, President and CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC). "At the OAC, we've long advocated for policies that recognize obesity as a chronic disease and provide patients access to FDA-approved treatment options. This program offers new hope for Medicare beneficiaries who may finally be able to access obesity medications at an affordable cost. While the Bridge is an important milestone, it should also be a catalyst for creating a permanent pathway to comprehensive obesity care within Medicare and across private insurance as well."
Novo Nordisk is actively working with CMS, healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and patient advocacy organizations to support implementation and help ensure patients can access the medicines they need. Expanding affordable access to medicines is a priority for Novo Nordisk, and the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge builds on a sustained effort to ensure patients can access authentic, FDA-approved Wegovy®. As a leader in the GLP-1 medicine category, Novo Nordisk has increased access through initiatives like NovoCare® Pharmacy, telehealth collaborations, and retail partnerships to help patients get authentic,
FDA-approved medicines without having to turn to unsafe alternatives. For more information about the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, patients are encouraged to speak with their healthcare professional. If you need support or have questions, connect with the NovoCare® Obesity and Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Support Team at 1-888-809-3942, available 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM ET. You can also find up-to-date information anytime by visiting: https://www.wegovy.com/medicare.html
* The source data for the over 3 million prescriptions for all strengths of Wegovy® pill includes Novo Nordisk Inc. partner-reported paid claims only from January 5, 2026 through June 2, 2026.
†Terms apply. For eligible Medicare patients prescribed Wegovy® for a covered FDA-approved indication. Eligibility criteria will be determined by CMS. This information is not a guarantee of coverage. Month defined as 1 box of 4 pens of Wegovy® and 1 bottle of 30 tablets of Wegovy®.
About obesity
Obesity is a serious, chronic, progressive, and complex disease that requires long-term management.1-3 One key misunderstanding is that this is a disease of just lack of willpower, when in fact there is underlying biology that may impede people living with obesity from losing weight and keeping it off.1,3 Obesity is influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics, social determinants of health, and the environment.
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company that's been making innovative medicines to help people with diabetes lead longer, healthier lives for more than 100 years. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to drive change to help people defeat other serious chronic diseases such as obesity, rare blood, and endocrine disorders. We remain steadfast in our conviction that the formula for lasting success is to stay focused, think long-term, and do business in a financially, socially, and environmentally responsible way. With a US presence spanning 40 years, Novo Nordisk US is headquartered in New Jersey and employs approximately 10,000 people throughout the country across more than 10 manufacturing, R&D and corporate locations in seven states plus Washington DC.
What is Wegovy®? Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection is a prescription medicine used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to:
- reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight.
- help adults and children aged 12 years and older with obesity, or some adults with excess weight (overweight) who also have weight-related medical problems to lose weight and keep the weight off.
Wegovy® (semaglutide) tablets are a prescription medicine used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to:
reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight.
help adults with obesity, or some adults with excess weight (overweight) who also have weight-related medical problems to lose weight and keep the weight off.
Wegovy® contains semaglutide and should not be used with other semaglutide-containing products or other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines.
It is not known if Wegovy® injection is safe and effective:
to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events (death, heart attack, or stroke) in people under 18 years
to help children under 12 years of age lose weight and keep the weight off
It is not known if Wegovy® tablets are safe and effective for use in people under 18 years of age.
What is the most important information I should know about Wegovy®? Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including:
Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, Wegovy® and other medicines that work like Wegovy® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Wegovy® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people
Do not use Wegovy® if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
Do not use Wegovy® if:
you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Wegovy® injection or Wegovy® tablets. See symptoms of serious allergic reaction in "What are the possible side effects of Wegovy®?"
