U.S. — Eligible Medicare beneficiaries can access obesity drugs through the Bridge demonstration program starting Wednesday, June 25, 2025. The monthly copay for these drugs under the program is $50.

Enrollment in the Bridge program is not automatic. Patients must meet eligibility requirements, obtain a prescription, and receive prior authorization approval through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) before coverage begins. Beneficiaries must be enrolled in Medicare Part D to qualify. The program is administered directly by CMS rather than through Part D plans, meaning private insurers do not need to play a role in educating beneficiaries. Patients already receiving coverage for a GLP-1 drug from their Part D plan for a Medicare-covered use, such as Type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease risk reduction, do not qualify.

A survey released in early June 2025 by the Obesity Care Advocacy Network found that 82% of adults aged 65 and older were unaware that Medicare was beginning to cover obesity drugs. The survey, conducted in late March 2025 among more than 2,100 adults in this age group, also indicated that 79% of Republicans and 84% of Democrats aged 65 and older were unaware of the new coverage.

CMS has conducted outreach to healthcare providers and pharmacists regarding the program. A CMS official stated that beneficiaries are most moved to take action when a benefit is actually available. The official also stated that the agency plans to release more promotions after the launch in the interest of being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. The government announced an extension of the program through 2027 after the survey was completed.

Shauna Levy, medical director of the Tulane Bariatric and Weight Loss Center, noted a lack of public information. "I have not seen a lot of information out there for the public, and I think there are going to be plenty of people who have zero knowledge of the Bridge program," Levy said. She added, "And I think for patients, it's just going to take even longer for them to find out about it, and then see if they're eligible."

The obesity drugs available through the program are manufactured by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. David Risinger, an analyst at Leerink Partners, said in an interview, "I was a little surprised that there hasn't been more advertising by Lilly and Novo for seniors to be ready to get their prescription." Novo Nordisk is promoting the program through targeted mentions on social media and its website but is not using linear TV advertisements. According to MediaRadar data, Novo Nordisk spent nearly $500 million on U.S. advertising for Wegovy and Ozempic in the first nine months of 2025, while Eli Lilly spent just over $200 million on U.S. advertising for Zepbound and Mounjaro during the same period.