Next month, Medicare begins covering weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound at fifty dollars a month, marking the end of decades of prohibition on such coverage. According to Axios, the program is expected to trigger enormous demand among roughly 14 million overweight or obese beneficiaries, but doctors worry the healthcare system isn't prepared. Clinicians are bracing for a surge in prior authorization requests, and many say there won't be adequate time for patient counseling on dosing and managing side effects. The coverage is limited—it excludes nutrition and behavioral support, the very services older adults often need to use these drugs safely. As the July launch approaches, healthcare leaders are signaling the rollout will likely be chaotic, with beneficiaries facing unexpected out-of-pocket costs and doctors struggling to meet demand.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton