Lilly outlines how eligible Medicare Part D patients can access its GLP-1 weight management medicines

Eli Lilly has rcently released further information surrounding the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, which becomes active on July 1, 2026. Qualifying Medicare Part D patients may gain access to either Foundayo or Zepbound KwikPen for individual patient use as part of a weight management plan. For those who qualify, this programme represents the first occasion on which broad Medicare Part D coverage for a GLP-1 medicine targeting excess weight or obesity has been made possible, a shift Lilly regards as an important acknowledgment of how significantly obesity affects older Americans. What follows is a summary of what patients and their clinicians should be aware of, drawing on clinical and eligibility criteria established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

can Foundayo and Zepbound be accessed through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program?

Patients enrolled in Medicare Part D who fulfil the programme’s clinical criteria and any additional requirements set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services may be able to obtain Foundayo or Zepbound for weight management purposes at a monthly cost of $50. Several other weight management medicines fall within the programme’s remit as well. New and existing patients alike become eligible for coverage from July 1, 2026, with the programme running through to the end of December 2027.

why does this represent a turning point for Medicare patients affected by obesity?

Broad Medicare coverage for weight management medicines has not previously existed, despite the fact that two in every five American adults aged 65 and above carry an obesity diagnosis. Establishing this coverage channel for eligible patients aligns with Lilly’s position that obesity warrants recognition and treatment as a chronic condition. It also makes Lilly’s weight management portfolio genuinely accessible, affording patients and their physicians a meaningful choice rather than a single prescribed path.

“Lilly estimates that approximately 20 million Medicare patients may meet clinical criteria for obesity medicines, and starting July 1, eligible patients will be able to get Zepbound or Foundayo for $50 per month,” said Ilya Yuffa, Executive Vice President and President of Lilly USA and Global Customer Capabilities. “For many, this will be the first time obesity treatment has been within reach. We’re proud to offer Foundayo and Zepbound, giving patients and their doctors a real choice between a daily pill that requires no planning around food or drink and the number 1 most prescribed injectable for weight loss. Both are proven to deliver meaningful weight loss when paired with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.”

what will Foundayo and Zepbound cost under this programme?

With prior authorisation in place and provided the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge clinical criteria and any further eligibility conditions are met, qualifying Medicare Part D patients may access either medicine at $50 per month for weight management purposes.

what distinguishes Foundayo from Zepbound?

Foundayo and Zepbound are two separate Lilly medicines designed for long-term weight management, each suited to different patient needs and preferences. Foundayo comes as a tablet taken once per day at a time of the patient’s choosing, with no restrictions around food or drink. Zepbound is the injectable option and holds the distinction of being the most frequently prescribed weight loss injection in the United States. Both have received FDA approval to help qualifying adults shed excess weight and maintain their progress over time, as part of a broader plan incorporating reduced calorie intake and regular physical activity.

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Eli Lilly, GLP-1, ozempic