Medicare has a new program that puts certain GLP-1 weight-loss drugs within reach for a flat $50 a month. It's called the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, and it runs from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027. But not everyone on Medicare qualifies, and the first thing you need is something a lot of people don't have: a Medicare drug plan.

Here's what the program covers, who qualifies, and exactly where to go to get it.

Prefer to watch? I walk through all of this in a 4-minute video: Medicare GLP-1 Bridge — Who Qualifies.

What the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge covers

Under the Bridge, you pay $50 for a one-month supply, no matter your income level. Three drugs are covered:

• Foundayo® (tablet)
• Wegovy® (injection or tablet)
• Zepbound® (KwikPen® only). The single-dose Zepbound pen and Zepbound vials are not covered.

The Bridge is run by Medicare directly, not by your drug plan. Medicare handles the approval through its own central processor.

Who qualifies: you need all four

1. You have Medicare Part D drug coverage. That can be a stand-alone Medicare drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage. You're not eligible if your only Medicare coverage is through certain special plan types, such as private fee-for-service plans, cost contract plans, or PACE.
2. Your drug plan isn't already covering a GLP-1 for you. If your plan has been paying for a GLP-1 drug for any reason, you keep getting it through your plan.
3. You don't have type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea, or fatty liver disease. If you have any of these, contact your drug plan. It may already cover a GLP-1 for you.
4. You're at least 18 and you meet the BMI rule below.

The BMI rule

At least one of these has to be true:

• Your BMI is 35 or higher.
• Your BMI is 30 or higher, and you have certain types of heart failure, high blood pressure that's hard to control, or chronic kidney disease (stage 3a or above).
• Your BMI is 27 or higher, and you have prediabetes, or you've had a heart attack, a stroke, or blocked arteries in your legs or arms.

Not sure what your BMI is? Your doctor calculates it from your height and weight.

How to get it

1. Talk to your doctor about whether a GLP-1 drug is right for you and whether you qualify.
2. Your doctor sends the prescription to your pharmacy. Any pharmacy can fill it.
3. The pharmacy asks for your Medicare ID, which is printed on your Medicare card. Don't worry if the first claim is rejected. That's how the process routes the claim to Medicare's program.
4. Your doctor submits a form to get approval from Medicare.
5. You get a letter from Medicare confirming your medicine is covered.
6. Pick it up and pay $50 for a one-month supply. Refills don't need a new approval as long as you stay on the same drug, even if your dose changes.

The fine print

• The $50 doesn't count toward your drug plan's deductible or its yearly out-of-pocket limit ($2,100 in 2026).
• These drugs aren't eligible for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
• Extra Help doesn't lower the $50. It's the same for everyone.

No drug plan? You don't qualify — yet

This is the part I see trip people up most. If you have a Medicare Supplement and never added a drug plan, you're not eligible, because a supplement doesn't include drug coverage.

The fix is the fall enrollment window, October 15 through December 7. You can add a stand-alone drug plan that starts January 1, which still leaves all of 2027 on the Bridge. If you've gone without drug coverage for a while, a late enrollment penalty may apply, so it's worth knowing that number before you decide.

Where to go

• Your doctor: to find out whether a GLP-1 drug is right for you.
• Medicare: visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227); TTY users call 1-877-486-2048.
• Green Bee Insurance: not sure whether you have drug coverage? That's a 15-minute check. Book a time with me or call (954) 437-4082.

Source: CMS fact sheet "Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: GLP-1 Drugs for $50 a Month," CMS Product No. 12234 (June 2026). This article is for general information only. Talk to your doctor to find out if a GLP-1 drug is right for you.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) to get information on all of your options.