The short answer
From July 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2027, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge lets eligible people with Medicare Part D get Wegovy (pen or pill), Foundayo or the Zepbound KwikPen for a $50 monthly copay. You must be 18 or older and meet BMI-plus-condition criteria, your provider must complete prior authorization, and people with type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea or fatty liver disease are excluded because their regular Part D plan may cover a GLP-1.
This guide is educational and not medical advice. It does not give dosing instructions. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist about your own situation.
It’s a temporary demonstration run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). By law, Part D plans generally can’t cover drugs used only for weight loss, so CMS created the Bridge to run outside the normal Part D benefit from July 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027. Your Part D plan doesn’t have to opt in, and a single central processor handles prior authorization and pharmacy payment.
| Covered | Not covered by the Bridge |
|---|---|
| Wegovy injection or tablet Foundayo tablet Zepbound KwikPen | Zepbound single-dose vials or single-dose pens Ozempic and Mounjaro (diabetes medicines—your regular Part D plan may cover them for diabetes) |
According to Medicare.gov, you must have Medicare drug coverage (a standalone Part D plan, a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage, a Special Needs Plan, an employer/union waiver plan, or LI NET), be 18 or older, and meet one of these when you start:
You pay a $50 copay for a one-month supply (28 or 30 days, depending on the drug). Because the Bridge sits outside your regular plan, that copay:
Not eligible? Our savings programs guide covers patient assistance and self-pay options.
Yes. Lilly’s Zepbound KwikPen self-pay card is open to self-paying patients, including people with government coverage, at the same $299–$449 monthly prices—on the condition that you don’t seek reimbursement from Medicare or apply the cost to your deductible. TrumpRx coupons have similar terms. For eligible people, though, the $50 Bridge copay is far cheaper.
CMS says the Bridge was extended through Dec. 31, 2027 so it can collect more data on GLP-1 use ahead of a potential longer-term model in Part D. What happens after that hasn’t been announced. We’ll update this guide when CMS publishes changes.
Yes, for eligible people, through the temporary Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (July 1, 2026–Dec. 31, 2027). It covers Wegovy injection or tablet, Foundayo, and the Zepbound KwikPen for a $50 monthly copay. Zepbound single-dose vials and pens aren’t covered.
No. The Bridge covers Wegovy, Foundayo and the Zepbound KwikPen. Ozempic is a type 2 diabetes medicine; if you have type 2 diabetes, your regular Part D plan may cover a GLP-1, and you aren’t eligible for the Bridge.
No. Medicare says the $50 copay can’t be lowered by Extra Help, doesn’t count toward your Part D deductible or out-of-pocket limit, and can’t be spread across months with the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
Medicare says your prior authorization is valid, including for refills and dose changes, through Dec. 31, 2027, unless you change to a different GLP-1.
Yes. Medicare.gov says the temporary program is available nationwide, including all states and U.S. territories, to eligible people with Medicare drug coverage.
You can still pay cash through LillyDirect, NovoCare or TrumpRx coupons (costs won’t count toward Medicare limits), or check whether you qualify for a manufacturer patient assistance program such as Novo Nordisk’s PAP or the Lilly Cares Foundation.
Temporary Medicare program (from July 1, 2026) covering Wegovy, Zepbound KwikPen, and Foundayo for eligible Part D enrollees.
Why it helps on a GLP-1: Eligible people with Medicare drug coverage pay a $50 monthly copay. Check the BMI and health-condition criteria on Medicare.gov.
Eli Lilly's direct-to-patient pharmacy for Zepbound, Foundayo, and other Lilly medicines, with home delivery.
Why it helps on a GLP-1: Self-pay Zepbound vials and KwikPens start at $299/month for the starter dose, and Foundayo pills start at $149/month—no insurance needed (prescription required).
Novo Nordisk's own pharmacy for self-pay Wegovy (pen and pill) and Ozempic, delivered to your door.
Why it helps on a GLP-1: New patients pay $199/month for the first two fills of the two lowest Wegovy pen doses (through 12/31/2026), then $349/month; Wegovy pill starts at $149/month.
Fitness program for older adults with gym access and live/online classes.
Why it helps on a GLP-1: Included with many Medicare Advantage plans—an easy way for older adults to add strength classes.
Browse related categories: 💸 Savings 💪 Strength
Every official way to pay less for Zepbound, Wegovy, Foundayo, Ozempic or Mounjaro in 2026: savings cards, direct pharmacies, TrumpRx and Medicare.
Read the guide →Cost & savingsOfficial Oct 2026 self-pay prices for Zepbound and Wegovy (plus the Wegovy pill and Foundayo), what changes the price, and cheaper paths if you qualify.
Read the guide →MedicinesThe two FDA-approved GLP-1 weight-loss pills compared: how to take them, trial results, side effects, October 2026 prices and Medicare coverage.
Read the guide →Prices and program terms change often; we re-check them on the official pages listed above. Listings are not endorsements, and we never list compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide sellers. Spot something outdated? Email hello@glp1sidekick.com.