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With Mass. cutting weight loss drug coverage, patients scramble to afford prescriptions
WBUR • • health
Key Points:
- Massachusetts Medicaid (MassHealth) will stop covering GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Zepbound and Wegovy on July 1, affecting at least 22,000 low-income residents who rely on these medications to manage obesity.
- The state aims to save $15 million annually amid budget constraints, but patients and doctors argue this decision stigmatizes obesity, a chronic disease, and may lead to worsening health outcomes and higher long-term healthcare costs.
- Many patients face steep out-of-pocket costs of up to $450 per month, forcing some to seek additional jobs or dip into savings, while others may forgo treatment altogether due to affordability issues.
- Private insurers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, have also restricted GLP-1 coverage due to high costs, with spending on these drugs rising sharply in recent years.
- Drug manufacturers express disappointment and encourage federal pilot programs to offer weight loss drugs at discounted prices for public insurance recipients, while Massachusetts officials hope price reductions may allow future coverage reinstatement.
