White House Announces Deal to Lower Costs for GLP-1 Medications and Expand Medicare Coverage

The White House recently announced deals with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to reduce pricing on GLP-1 medications. Medicare beneficiaries will pay no more than $50 per month for approved treatments like Zepbound and Ozempic. In this announcement, the White House stated Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound Medicare program costs will drop to $245, a significant reduction from current prices, without rebate considerations. Eli Lilly cites copay caps to start as early as April 2026.

The initiative marks a significant shift in how anti-obesity medications (AOM) are covered—signaling broader federal support for addressing obesity as a chronic disease and expanding access under Medicare. Many questions have yet to be answered on how and when the drugs will become available for Medicare beneficiaries for obesity treatment. The Novo Nordisk announcement references “ a pilot program designed to cover a majority of Part D beneficiaries” but no further details have been released.

The GLPs will also be available for cash pay at reduced pricing through TrumpRx.

What it means:

The initiative underscores growing momentum toward including GLP-1 therapies in benefit design strategies. Stakeholders should begin evaluating cost-share models, coverage criteria and provider and member-education approaches ahead of 2026. 

Let’s Talk:

Rebellis helps health plans navigate evolving regulatory and market strategies. Contact us to discuss how your organization can prepare for the Part D changes.