Guides to the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge
The Bridge is new, and the details decide everything — which BMI counts, which conditions change the route, what your doctor needs to write on the prescription. These guides cover it all in plain English, so you can walk into your doctor's office knowing more about the program than most people do.
New here? Start with what the Bridge is, then the eligibility checklist, then how it works step by step. The rest of the guides go deeper on the details that decide your specific case.
What to expect: the process step by step
The whole journey in order — from asking your doctor to your first fill — including the pharmacy claim that's denied on purpose to trigger your prior authorization.
What is the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge?
The program in plain English: what it covers, when it runs, why it exists, and what it means for you.
Eligibility checklist
Everything to gather before talking to your doctor — coverage, BMI history, diagnoses, and the question about prior GLP-1 use that trips people up.
Writing to your doctor
How to ask about the Bridge in a way that's easy for your doctor to act on — with sample language you can adapt.
Wegovy and the Bridge
Both the injection and the tablets are covered. What to prepare, and when a Wegovy request routes through Part D instead.
Zepbound and the Bridge
Only the KwikPen is covered — not vials or single-dose pens. Why that detail matters before your doctor writes the prescription.
Foundayo and the Bridge
The once-daily oral pill (orforglipron) — no injection, $50/month. What to ask your doctor.
Weight loss & side effects compared
How much weight loss in the trials — Wegovy vs Zepbound vs Foundayo — and the common side effects, with sources.
Which BMI counts
The program looks at your BMI when therapy started. If you've already lost weight on a GLP-1 you pay for yourself, this rule works in your favor.
Bridge or Part D — which route?
Diabetes, sleep apnea, MASH, and prior plan-paid GLP-1 use send the request down a different path. Neither path is a dead end.
What to bring your doctor
The short list of documents that lets your doctor act in one visit instead of three.
After the Bridge ends
The program runs through December 31, 2027. Questions worth asking now about what comes after.
Does Medicare cover Ozempic?
Ozempic isn't covered by the Bridge — but Wegovy and Zepbound are. What that means if you're currently paying cash for Ozempic for weight loss.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge cost?
$50 for a one-month supply, and per CMS it doesn't count toward your Part D deductible or the $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap.
Which medications are covered?
Wegovy (all formulations), the Foundayo oral pill, and the Zepbound KwikPen. Ozempic and other GLP-1s aren't part of the Bridge.
How long does the program run?
July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 — it's a time-limited CMS demonstration.
Do I enroll on a website?
No. The path runs through your doctor, the pharmacy, and the Bridge program. This site only helps you prepare.
Sources and review status: Content reviewed June 27, 2026. Check current CMS Medicare GLP-1 Bridge materials before relying on this information: CMS Bridge overview, beneficiary fact sheet (PDF), and provider information.