$350–$500+/mo
Typical direct-to-consumer prices through programs like LillyDirect and NovoCare — every month, indefinitely.
New Medicare program · Live as of July 1, 2026
Medicare now covers weight-loss medication — for about $50 a month.
The new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge is open: brand-name Wegovy, Zepbound, and Foundayo for weight management — something Medicare has never done before. Answer a few questions, see how you line up with the published criteria, and walk into your doctor's office with everything they need to act.
Takes about 3 minutes · No Medicare ID or account needed · Independent educational tool — not affiliated with Medicare
If you've been paying out of pocket, this changes the math.
Until now, Medicare didn't cover GLP-1 medications for weight loss. People made do with expensive self-pay programs or took chances on compounded versions.
Uncertain
Advertised prices often exclude fees and consults — and quality and dosing consistency aren't FDA-approved.
~$50/mo copay
Brand-name Wegovy, Zepbound (KwikPen), or Foundayo for eligible Medicare beneficiaries who meet the published criteria.
Self-pay figures reflect typical published direct-to-consumer pricing and vary by drug and dose. The Bridge copay applies only if you're confirmed eligible and your clinician prescribes — this site can't promise either.
Want your exact number? The free Bridge savings calculator shows what you could save through December 2027 based on what you pay today — no sign-up.
Wondering which one? Compare Wegovy, Zepbound, and Foundayo on weight loss and side effects — a plain-English look at the trial data, including the new higher-dose Wegovy HD.
The catch: it's new, and the details matter.
The Bridge has specific criteria — BMI thresholds, qualifying conditions, exclusions, and an unusual pharmacy routing step. Most doctors haven't prescribed through it yet, because it only opened on July 1. And it's temporary: the program runs only through December 31, 2027, so every month spent waiting is a month of the window gone. That's the friction this site removes.
Answer a few questions
Plan type, height and weight, health conditions — in plain English, free, right in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.
See where you stand
We compare your answers to the published CMS criteria and flag anything that may route you to regular Part D instead.
Hand your doctor a ready-to-act packet
A portal message in your own voice, a one-page summary, and a prescriber reference sheet built from CMS's own instructions, with the specific details your doctor needs to get the request routed and approved the first time.
The Bridge may be worth discussing if you…
- Have a Medicare drug plan (Part D or Medicare Advantage with drug coverage)
- Want a GLP-1 for weight reduction or maintenance — not another condition
- Had a BMI of 35+, or 30+ / 27+ with certain conditions, when starting therapy
- Pay cash today through LillyDirect, NovoCare, or a compounding pharmacy — that does not count against you
It likely routes elsewhere if you…
- Have type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea, or MASH (fatty liver disease) — those requests go through your regular Part D plan
- Received a GLP-1 through your Part D plan during 2026 (a plan-paid GLP-1 from an earlier year doesn't count)
- Don't have Medicare drug coverage
The free screener sorts this out for you and explains what to ask your doctor either way.
The Bridge is open. Walk in ready.
Prescriptions can go out now — but Medicare appointments often book two to six weeks out, finding your starting weight can take some digging, and your doctor needs a moment to learn a brand-new program. The patients who arrive prepared are the ones whose requests go through first:
- Book the appointment now — the program window runs only through December 2027, and appointment calendars fill fast
- Send your doctor the message and clinician sheet early, so the program homework is done before your visit, not during it
- Gather your documentation — drug plan card, starting weight, diagnosis records
- Skip the false starts — if your doctor agrees treatment is appropriate, a correctly routed request can go out the same day, instead of bouncing back on a technicality
The screener and your doctor message are free. The optional Doctor Request Packet is $39 once — against $400+ every month at self-pay — and comes with a 14-day, no-questions refund. The Bridge runs through December 31, 2027.
Want to know if the criteria change?
The Bridge is new and CMS updates its guidance as questions come up. Join the list and we'll email you if the published criteria change.
We'll email you if the published criteria change — nothing else. Unsubscribe anytime.
Learn more about the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge
Plain-English guides to how the program works, who it's for, and how to talk to your doctor about it.
What is the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge?
The short-term CMS program, what it covers, and why it exists.
Eligibility checklist
Gather your plan, BMI, diagnosis, and medication details before talking to your doctor.
Doctor letter guide
How to ask your doctor about the Bridge without overclaiming anything.
Common questions
Is it really about $50 a month?
Yes. Per CMS, covered brand-name GLP-1 medications are $50 for a one-month supply under the Bridge — a fraction of typical self-pay prices — and that $50 doesn't count toward your Part D deductible or the $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap. What's never automatic is the medication itself: your clinician decides whether it's appropriate, and the program confirms your eligibility.
I pay cash for Wegovy/Zepbound now. Am I disqualified?
No — paying out of pocket (LillyDirect, NovoCare, or a compounding pharmacy) is not the same as receiving a GLP-1 through your Part D plan. The exclusion applies to people whose Part D plan paid for a GLP-1 during 2026 (per CMS's June 2026 FAQ); cash, and a plan-paid GLP-1 from before 2026, don't count. The screener walks you through this distinction.
What if my doctor hasn't heard of the Bridge?
That's expected — it's brand new. Our packet includes a one-page clinician reference, built from CMS's official prescriber materials, that lays out the specific details your doctor needs to get the request routed and approved without stalling on a technicality. Your doctor gets the "how," not just the request.
Is this an official Medicare site?
No. GLP1BridgeHelp.com is an independent educational tool built and operated by Columbia Software Works LLC — not affiliated with CMS, Medicare, HHS, drug manufacturers, or any Part D plan. We summarize published CMS materials, cite the exact document numbers so you can verify them, and help you prepare for a conversation with your clinician.
Can this site tell me I qualify, or prescribe medication?
No. We show how your answers line up with the published criteria — "appears to match," "may not match," or "unclear." Only your clinician can decide whether a GLP-1 is medically appropriate, and only the Bridge program confirms eligibility.