Health news today: Trump unveils TrumpRx with steep GLP-1 price cuts; Medicare coverage opens for Wegovy and Zepbound in 2026

A sweeping obesity-drug plan took center stage today as the administration launched TrumpRx, a national pricing platform tied to new agreements with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. The deals slash out-of-pocket costs for blockbuster GLP-1 medicines—Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound and Mounjaro—and clear a path for Medicare coverage of anti-obesity therapy beginning in 2026. Markets reacted in real time: Lilly shares edged higher while Novo Nordisk slipped, reflecting differing read-throughs on volume versus margin.

What the TrumpRx plan changes on day one

• Cash prices via TrumpRx: Injectables move to an initial ~$350/month, stepping down toward ~$245/month over two years through negotiated most-favored-nation benchmarks.

• Medicare & Medicaid: With negotiated prices in place, Medicare will cover Wegovy and Zepbound for adults with obesity and related conditions, targeting a $50 monthly co-pay; state Medicaid programs can opt in at the same net prices.

• Oral GLP-1s on deck: First-wave pill formulations (once authorized) are slated to launch at ~$149/month through the platform, broadening access for patients who avoid injections.

• Insulin and other meds: The framework extends to selected insulin products ($35 per month of supply) and additional cardiometabolic drugs at steep discounts.

TrumpRx itself doesn’t dispense medicines; it routes patients to the lowest verified prices and applies the negotiated terms at participating pharmacies and direct-to-manufacturer channels.

GLP-1, Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound: what these drugs do

GLP-1 receptor agonists (and in Zepbound’s case, a dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist) mimic gut hormones that regulate appetite and glucose. In clinical use they:

• Reduce appetite and caloric intake, supporting ~15–22% average weight loss for some patients when paired with diet and activity.

• Improve metabolic health, including glycemic control and, for Wegovy, cardiovascular risk reduction in certain at-risk adults.

They remain prescription medicines with contraindications and side-effect profiles (nausea, gastrointestinal effects, rare risks), so medical supervision is essential.

How patients can use TrumpRx

1. Search your medication and dose on the platform and confirm eligibility (cash-pay or plan-based).

2. Upload or link a valid prescription, or schedule a telehealth visit if offered.

3. Choose the lowest route: retail pharmacy pickup, mail order, or manufacturer fulfillment.

4. Check stacking rules: manufacturer coupons/loyalty may be limited or unnecessary under TrumpRx pricing, and Medicare beneficiaries generally cannot use manufacturer copay cards.

5. Plan your titration: GLP-1s escalate through multiple strengths; ensure supply continuity for each step-up.

Note: Coverage criteria (BMI thresholds, comorbidities, prior authorization) will be set by Medicare and, where applicable, state Medicaid programs; details will phase in across early 2026.

Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and the policy trade-offs

For manufacturers, deeper discounts are partially offset by expanded insured access and a potential surge in demand—especially if oral GLP-1s arrive on schedule. For payers, upfront drug spend is expected to be counterbalanced over time by fewer obesity-related complications (diabetes progression, cardiovascular events). Two unresolved questions will shape 2026:

• Budget impact: Can negotiated prices and stricter eligibility keep the program budget-neutral once millions seek coverage?

• Supply resilience: Manufacturers have raced to add fill-finish, pen-assembly and API capacity; sustained demand plus new pill volumes could strain supply without further investments.

Fast answers to today’s most-asked questions

What is TrumpRx?
A national price-finding and routing site that applies negotiated, most-favored-nation-style pricing to selected drugs. It connects patients to pharmacies or direct manufacturer channels; it is not a pharmacy.

Will Medicare cover weight-loss drugs now?
Coverage for Wegovy and Zepbound is slated to begin in 2026 for defined patient groups, with a $50 co-pay target under the negotiated prices.

What about Ozempic and Mounjaro?
Those brands are primarily indicated for diabetes; negotiated prices are included for beneficiaries meeting coverage rules, and cash prices drop for others via TrumpRx.

Are oral GLP-1 pills really coming at $149?
That launch price target applies to first-wave oral versions if and when authorized. Timing depends on regulatory decisions.

How did stocks move?
Lilly ticked up as investors leaned into a volume story; Novo Nordisk fell on margin worries and near-term price optics.

What to watch next

• Final Medicare criteria: BMI cut-offs, comorbidity requirements, and prior-auth language.

• Pharmacy throughput: Whether pharmacies and specialty channels can handle titration complexity without stockouts.

• Oral GLP-1 timelines: Clearance and ramp-up will determine how quickly the $149 target affects real-world access.

• State Medicaid uptake: Opt-in speed and any state-specific guardrails.

Today’s move reframes the U.S. obesity-care market. If negotiated pricing holds and coverage activates smoothly in 2026, millions more Americans could access Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, and future GLP-1 pills at prices once thought unreachable—shifting the debate from “if” to how we deploy these medicines safely and sustainably.