More than 500,000 Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the $50-a-month Medicare GLP-1 Bridge in its first two months, saving a combined $216 million on weight-loss drugs, according to White House figures reported by AARP. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said at an Aug. 31 White House briefing that enrollment had reached 600,000. The figures come from the administration and have not been independently verified.
Pharmacies are seeing the same demand. Walgreens and CVS Health have each filled more than 100,000 prescriptions through the program, Becker's Hospital Review reported, and Walgreens' chief pharmacy officer said volume is well ahead of expectations.
The figures suggest strong interest among eligible beneficiaries, many of whom faced high costs for these drugs before the program began. The early growth also raises a household question about what happens to access, and who pays, after the program ends Dec. 31, 2027.
Pharmacy Volume Outpaces Early Expectations
The Bridge is a short-term demonstration that runs outside the regular Part D benefit from July 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027, according to CMS. It offers Wegovy injections and tablets, Foundayo tablets, and Zepbound KwikPens for $50 a month when prescribed for weight management. About 250,000 people enrolled in July, and participation topped 500,000 by the end of August, AARP reported.
The half-million figure represents about 15% of the potential Medicare market, Modern Healthcare reported, as summarized by KFF Health News. Separately, KFF has estimated that about 3.8 million beneficiaries could qualify for the program.
"We have seen actually uptake be pretty strong in the first part of the program," Rick Gates, chief pharmacy officer for Walgreens, told Becker's. "I would say it is far exceeding from a volume perspective what we expected at this point."
Gates also said growth may level off, predicting "a natural plateau" as some patients stay on therapy while others stop and look for other ways to maintain their weight.
Separate data from the health analytics company Truveta showed a 19% jump from June to July in the share of adults 65 and older with a GLP-1 prescription, the largest month-to-month increase in seven years of its data, AARP reported. Karen Farrar, a senior research analyst at Truveta, said the preliminary data do not establish that the Bridge caused the rise, but "we're seeing an immediate increase in prescribing following the implementation of the program."
Strong Demand Raises Coverage Questions for 2027 and Beyond
The pace matters because Medicare pays most of the cost. Manufacturers supply the drugs at a net price of $245 a month, and beneficiaries pay $50, according to Becker's, which leaves Medicare paying $195, AARP reported. Because the Bridge operates outside Part D, drug plans do not carry financial risk for these prescriptions, CMS says. The agency plans to share Bridge data with plan sponsors ahead of potential future coverage through its BALANCE model.
That is why insurers are watching closely. Modern Healthcare reported that the program's strong start may point to large expenses for Medicare Advantage insurers down the line. CMS said it would review 18 months of data before deciding whether the Bridge should continue past 2027, Becker's reported, and the separate BALANCE model for Part D has been paused indefinitely.
For households, the stakes are concrete. If coverage eventually moves into private drug plans, what enrollees pay could depend on each plan's rules rather than a single $50 price. Gates called coverage after the program ends "the biggest watch-out."
MedicalDaily previously reported that the $50 price excludes an estimated 5.9 million enrollees with qualifying diagnoses such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea, who must seek GLP-1 coverage through their regular Part D plans. That exclusion still applies. The new figures do not change eligibility rules, but they show how quickly people who qualify have used the program.
Eligibility, Costs, and Open Enrollment Checks
To qualify, beneficiaries need eligible Medicare drug coverage and must meet body mass index (BMI) criteria at the start of GLP-1 therapy, according to CMS. The criteria are a BMI of 35 or higher; a BMI of 30 or higher with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or stage 3a or higher chronic kidney disease; or a BMI of 27 or higher with prediabetes, a previous heart attack or stroke, or symptomatic peripheral artery disease. A clinician must send a prescription and complete a prior authorization request. AARP reported that most coverage decisions are being made in under 12 hours, and there is no formal appeals process.
The $50 copay does not count toward insurance deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums, the Associated Press reported. People with type 2 diabetes, moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, or the liver disease MASH are not eligible for the Bridge because those conditions can qualify for GLP-1 coverage through their regular Part D plans, where out-of-pocket costs depend on the plan.
Medicare's annual open enrollment period runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. Bridge participants considering a plan change for 2027 should confirm that the new plan keeps them eligible. In 2026, CMS limits the Bridge to standalone drug plans and certain Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage. Private fee-for-service plans, cost plans, and PACE organizations are among the excluded plan types unless the beneficiary also has a standalone drug plan.
Older adults starting these drugs should review side effects, nutrition, and physical activity with their clinician. Patients should not stop or change a GLP-1 prescription without medical advice, and severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, or signs of dehydration warrant prompt medical attention.
"The sheer cost of these medications is a huge barrier to access," Oz said when the program launched, according to the AP.
Several questions remain, including how many enrollees will stay on treatment, how many requests have been denied, and what CMS will decide about coverage after 2027. The next signals to watch are updated CMS enrollment data, insurer decisions as 2027 plans take shape, and any congressional action on permanent coverage. For now, the confirmed fact is that more than half a million beneficiaries moved quickly to use a $50 option, and the central uncertainty is what comes after it.
Key Questions Answered
How many people have joined the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge? More than 500,000 beneficiaries had signed up by the end of August, saving $216 million, according to the White House. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz has cited 600,000.
Which drugs does the Bridge cover? Wegovy injections and tablets, Foundayo tablets, and Zepbound KwikPens, each for $50 a month when prescribed for weight management.
Who qualifies? Beneficiaries with eligible Medicare drug coverage who meet BMI criteria, such as a BMI of 35 or higher, or a lower BMI with certain health conditions. A clinician must request prior authorization.
Why are insurers concerned? Modern Healthcare reported that the program's strong start may point to high future costs for Medicare Advantage insurers if coverage of these drugs moves into their plans.
When does the program end? The Bridge is scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2027. CMS has said it will review program data before deciding whether to continue it.
Should I switch plans during open enrollment? If you use the Bridge, confirm that any new 2027 plan keeps you eligible before switching. Open enrollment runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.
