It’s suddenly hard to avoid ads, articles and discussions about Ozempic, Mounjaro and other drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes. As you probably know, when used in conjunction with recommended lifestyle changes, these outpatient drugs can also result in significant weight loss — a benefit for some.
Medicare Part D (or a Medicare Advantage plan) will cover these popular drugs only if they are part of a prescribed diabetes treatment plan. Despite the health risks (and costs) associated with obesity, the class of drugs known as GLP-1 analogs are not approved for off-label use and are thus not covered by Medicare for weight loss alone.
Click here for more information about Medicare diabetes coverage. This includes the $35/month copayment cap on insulin that was introduced in 2023 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.