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Trump Unveils Price Cuts for Weight-Loss Drugs, Medicare Coverage

11/7/2025

47 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

On November 6, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced price cuts with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, effective mid-2026.
Medicare will cover Wegovy and Zepbound for obesity and certain comorbidities.
The average price starts at $350 and falls to $245 over two years, with a $50 co-pay.
The administration says the plan is budget-neutral.
Health officials project 125 million pounds of weight loss within a year.

History

Historical Context

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, enacted in 2003, marked the largest overhaul of Medicare since its inception in 1965, introducing prescription drug coverage for seniors. This legislation prohibited Medicare from negotiating drug prices, a restriction that persisted until the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 allowed negotiations starting in 2026, aiming to reduce healthcare costs for millions of Americans.

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Story summary

On November 6, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced price cuts with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, effective mid-2026.
Medicare will cover Wegovy and Zepbound for obesity and certain comorbidities.
The average price starts at $350 and falls to $245 over two years, with a $50 co-pay.
The administration says the plan is budget-neutral.
Health officials project 125 million pounds of weight loss within a year.

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