STAT+: Trump’s obesity drug plan creates a temporary Medicare program that may be hard to end

STAT PlusPolitics Trump’s obesity drug plan creates a temporary Medicare program that may be hard to end Weight loss drugs will be available to adults 65 and older in Medicare for the first time next month Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By John WilkersonJune 15, 2026 Washington Correspondent John Wilkerson[email protected]John writes about the politics of health care, and he is the author of the twice-weekly D.C. Diagnosis newsletter. You can reach John on Signal at John_Wilkerson.07. WASHINGTON — Weight loss drugs will be available to adults 65 and older in Medicare for the first time next month, thanks to a government program that’s supposed to be temporary. It may be difficult to end it. Medicare is prohibited by law from paying for obesity drugs. The Trump administration is circumventing that law by making the drugs available via a demonstration program.Advertisement Initially, Medicare had hoped to push private Medicare insurers to voluntarily cover the drugs via a three-year program called BALANCE, which would have started following a short transitional period. But insurers balked, so the federal government is instead extending the transitional coverage program, called Bridge, until the end of next year. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily intelligence on Capitol Hill and the life sciences industry — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In chronic diseases, drug pricing, HHS, Medicare, Obesity, politics, STAT+, weight loss Submit a correction requestReprints John Wilkerson Washington Correspondent John writes about the politics of health care, and he is the author of the twice-weekly D.C. Diagnosis newsletter. You can reach John on Signal at John_Wilkerson.07. Newsletter The latest updates in federal health agencies, research institutes, and U.S. policy Recommended Health June 15, 2026 Covid vaccination cut risk of adverse heart events, large study finds The Readout June 15, 2026 STAT Plus: Lilly’s Ajax acquisition may have been worth it Advertisement The Readout June 12, 2026 STAT Plus: Prometheus raises $12 billion in capital for artificial engineers The Readout LOUD June 11, 2026 STAT Plus: An obesity drug deep-dive, and peptides move mainstream The Readout June 11, 2026 STAT Plus: Novartis doubles down on molecular glue strategy Subscriber Picks