The Biden administration introduced a proposal to require Medicare D plans and Medicaid to cover weight loss drugs by defining them as treatment for chronic disease. Medicare D plans are currently banned from covering these medications for weight loss. Currently, 14 state Medicaid plans cover weight loss prescriptions. The proposal would require all states to cover these medications. There is a 60-day public comment period on this proposal, meaning that the Trump administration will decide if it is implemented.

Medicare (for adults over 65) requires the addition of D plans to cover prescription medication, the proposal would add coverage of GLP-1 weight loss drugs to the D plan.

Medicaid (for people over the age of 18 of lower incomes) is different from Medicare in that it currently covers most outpatient prescription medication without an additional plan. This is decided by the state, and all states have drug coverage for Medicaid.

Fourteen states already cover GLP-1 weight loss drugs under Medicaid, including California, Delaware, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin. The proposal would require all states to provide this coverage.

There is no specific information about when this change will take effect and how it will be rolled out across different states or regions.