Medicare spending on Ozempic and similar diabetes drugs soars, study finds, and it could end up costing seniors

Medicare spending on Ozempic and similar diabetes drugs skyrocketed from $57 million in 2018 to $5.7 billion in 2022, according to an analysis. These medications, including Mounjaro and Rybelsus, are popular for diabetes treatment and weight loss, despite Medicare’s legal limitations on covering drugs for weight loss. Medicare started covering Ozempic in 2018, followed by Rybelsus and Mounjaro in 2019 and 2022 respectively. Medicare plans to cover Wegovy for obese or overweight individuals with heart disease after its FDA approval for cardiovascular benefits. The analysis warns that the high demand, new uses, and elevated prices of these drugs could strain Medicare spending and enrollees’ costs.