What Medicare’s Temporary Program Covering GLP-1s for Obesity Means for Beneficiaries Published: March 9, 2026

https://www.kff.org/quick-take/what-medicares-temporary-program-covering-glp-1s-for-obesity-means-for-beneficiaries/?utm_campaign=KFF-This-Week&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--xa3sGJ-rTPIRZv6Mm3SvEWxTQ0U1eCXCeIfblJXy8oT8Om7m-FfTz6kkU6hx7rHQZvP0UP-Wu0wuF-Agdp9gCNmnVOA&_hsmi=408653873&utm_content=408653873&utm_source=hs_email The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a memo fleshing out the design of a short-term program providing Medicare coverage of GLP-1s for obesity in 2026 ahead of a multi-year demonstration program beginning in 2027. Medicare is statutorily prohibited from covering drugs used for weight loss, and these demonstration programs are designed to fill that gap.