Medicare’s New GLP-1 Bridge Program Starts July 1: How to Get Weight-Loss Drugs for $50
Find out who's eligible, what medications are included and what paperwork you need to complete
Key Takeaways
- The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program starts July 1 and runs through December 2027.
- Eligible participants can get certain GLP-1 drugs for $50 a month through select pharmacies.
- Prior authorization is required, and experts say long-term access remains uncertain.
The new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, which will allow seniors to get certain GLP-1 drugs for just $50 a month and is part of The Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive Health (BALANCE) Program, starts July 1. And while some experts are excited for expanded access to medication typically used to treat type 2 diabetes and for weight loss, others warn that it could do more harm than good. But what exactly is the GLP-1 Bridge program? And is it too late to enroll in it? We break it all down below.
What is the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program?
The Bridge program was originally announced in December 2025 under the name The BALANCE Program. At the time, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said that the program would help participants enrolled in the Medicare Part D plan—the part that covers outpatient prescription drugs—get GLP-1s for just $50 a month under President Donald Trump’s Most Favored Nations drug pricing deal, which allows drugs in the United States to be as low as they are in other high-income nations.
“Today’s announcement builds upon our historic Most Favored Nations drug pricing deals’ goal of democratizing access to weight-loss medication, which has been out of reach for so many in need,” CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, said in a statement in December 2025. “These actions further the administration’s bold plan to reform our country’s health systems and Make America Healthy Again. With the BALANCE Model, we’re pairing breakthrough science with healthy living to cut costs while empowering Americans to take control of their health.”
When does the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program start?
The program begins on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 and goes until December 31, 2027. During that time, people with Medicare Part D will have the opportunity to buy 30-day supplies of GLP-1s from either Wegovy, Zepbound and Foundayo for just $50 at select pharmacies, including Walgreens.
“The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge seeks to test whether providing access to GLP-1 products at a uniform, CMS-negotiated net price will help improve beneficiary outcomes and reduce long-term Medicare spending,” Kelly Strachan, CMS health insurance specialist and Innovation Center fellow, said, according to The Hill.
Some experts have raised concerns
Some experts are concerned that the program could open the door for more Medicare-related fraud issues, something the Trump Administration has been cracking down on.
“It requires the provider to fill out this really detailed prior authorization form to send that in before approval can happen. So, you have a check and balance that requires the coordination between two different entities—the provider and the pharmacy—to actually get the fraud,” Christopher Frisina, healthcare regulatory counsel at the law firm Alston & Bird, told The Hill. “It’s not going to be as straightforward as some of the fraud schemes that we often see, but I don’t think it’s outside of the realm of possibility.”
There are also conversations about how detrimental it could be for Medicare beneficiaries to lose access to GLP-1 medications designed to improve their health if the program doesn’t continue past December 2027.
“What we do know is that many people regain weight quickly after stopping them, which suggests this may become a lifelong medication for many users,” Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. “From a financial standpoint, someone is ultimately footing the bill, and right now there are very few answers about what happens after December 31, 2027.”
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, also told the outlet, “The greatest concern is that while in the short-term the program could provide health benefits to those who need help with weight management, in the long-term, those same problems could return if there is a failure to extend the program past its current end date.”
How to enroll in the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program
To enroll in the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program and get access to certain GLP-1 drugs at a discounted rate, Medicare Part D participants must speak to their providers on or after July 1. If your provider decides you are a fit, you can then jointly submit a Prior Authorization Request that will be submitted to CMS for review.
As of publication, CMS has not shared how they plan to determine who can and cannot enroll in the program. They also haven’t shared if people who apply and are denied can reapply before the program’s end date in December 2027.
More ways to get GLP-1s for less
If you don’t have Medicare Part D benefits or are denied coverage under the Bridge program, there are still several other ways to save on GLP-1 drugs. One option is President Trump’s direct-to-consumer pharmacy TrumpRx, which sells GLP-1 pills and injectables for less than the retail price you might pay at the pharmacy.
Other savings strategies like manufacturer discount programs, comparison shopping and using HSA or FSA funds could help certain eligible adults get GLP-1s for as little as $25 a month. You could also discuss microdosing a GLP-1 with your doctor, which cuts down on costs.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
