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Medicare to begin covering obesity drugs next year; lower prices for some uninsured patients

Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk agree to expand access and cut prices for Zepbound and Wegovy
Medicare to begin covering obesity drugs next year; lower prices for some uninsured patients
Move comes as part of Trumps broader push to address prescription drug costs

New deal targets high cost of obesity drugs

President Donald Trump has announced a new agreement with drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk aimed at expanding access and lowering the cost of their blockbuster obesity drugs, Zepbound and Wegovy. The deal marks the latest in a series of administration efforts to curb prescription drug prices ahead of next years election.

Under the agreement, Medicare will begin covering the drugs for obesity treatment starting in 2026. In addition, the companies plan to roll out lower prices for some uninsured patients, with starting doses of newly developed pill versions expected to cost $149 a month if approved by regulators.

The prices for GLP-1 drugs would also be lower for Americans who use cash to buy them through a new government website that is expected to direct people to drugmaker direct-to-consumer programs.

The specific prices Americans will pay, and when those price changes will kick in, will vary based on where people get their prescriptions Medicare, Medicaid, or through a direct-to-consumer program.

For Medicare and Medicaid, if states opt in drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound will be $245 a month. For Medicare, the copay will be $50, Politico said.

This will save lives, improve the health of millions and millions of Americans, Trump said during an Oval Office announcement, referring to the GLP-1 medications as fat drugs, according to a Washington Post report.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been critical of the weight-loss medications, said the deal will help push down costs related to health conditions such as diabetes and cardiac disease.

If we want to solve the chronic disease crisis, we have to tackle obesity, Kennedy said.

Obesity drugs popularity soars amid cost barriers

Zepbound and Wegovy belong to a class of treatments known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic natural hormones that regulate appetite and feelings of fullness. Clinical trials show the drugs can help patients lose between 15% and 22% of their body weightoften more than 50 pounds.

Despite their success, access has been limited. The treatments can cost around $500 a month for higher doses, and insurance coverage has been inconsistent. Until now, Medicare had covered the drugs only for conditions like type 2 diabetes or heart disease, not for obesity itself.

Sales of Eli Lillys Zepbound have tripled this year to over $9 billion, reflecting booming demand. Yet many patients have struggled to afford ongoing treatment, which doctors say must continue indefinitely to maintain weight loss.

Broader effort to rein in drug prices

Thursdays deal follows a series of recent administration moves targeting high drug costs. Earlier this year, Pfizer and AstraZeneca agreed to reduce prices for certain Medicaid-covered prescriptions after a Trump executive order gave drugmakers a deadline to voluntarily cut prices or face new federal payment limits.

Still, experts caution that the impact on consumers may vary depending on insurance coverage and market competition. While the announcement could bring relief to some patients, it remains to be seen whether it will significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for most Americans.The impact on people with private insurance, which is a majority of Americans, is unclear. A senior administration official said both companies have committed to lower those costs as well.

Israeli company grows meat from egg cells

• USDA issues its first-ever inspection grant for a large-scale cultivated meat factory.

• Believer Meats becomes the fifth startup and first non-U.S. company cleared to sell cell-cultured meat in the U.S.

• North Carolina facility set to produce 12,000 tonnes of cultivated chicken annually.

Believer Meats, an Israeli startup pioneering cell-cultured meat, has secured the final regulatory greenlight it needs to begin commercial production and sales in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has completed its first and only inspection grant for a large-scale cultivated meat factory Believers new 200,000-square-foot facility in Wilson County, North Carolina.

The USDA also approved the companys product labeling, officially authorizing Believer Meats to market its cultivated chicken to American consumers. The milestone follows a no questions letter issued in July by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), signaling regulatory confidence in the safety of the companys product, according to Food Safety News.

Founded in 2018 by Yaakov Nahmias, a biomedical engineering professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Believer Meats is now the worlds largest cultivated meat facility. The site includes an innovation center, tasting kitchen, and production lines capable of yielding 12,000 tons of cultivated chicken each year roughly 26 million pounds.

Cell media rejuvenation

Company CEO Gustavo Burger called the USDAs sign-off a major milestone that authorizes us to begin commercial production and sales of our cultivated chicken products in the U.S. and export to international markets. Believers process uses centrifuge-based perfusion and a cell media rejuvenation system to grow meat from spontaneously immortalized fibroblast cells derived from fertilized chicken eggs.

Believer Meats, formerly known as Future Meat Technologies, has raised $123 million in venture funding to date. It joins a short list of cultivated meat startups cleared by both U.S. regulators and stands out as the first non-American firm to do so.

While several states have moved to ban the sale of cell-cultured meat, North Carolina has taken a more welcoming stance. The North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech) has publicly backed Believer Meats arrival as part of the states growing bioindustrial ecosystem.

This is the first and only large-scale cultivated meat facility to have earned this approval, Burger said, calling it the final word from U.S. regulators before the company brings its alternative chicken to market.

From pharmacy deserts to sticker shock at the register, medication adherence is under pressure

• Rising prescription costs and pharmacy closures are making it harder for many Americans to afford and access their medications.

• Nearly 1 in 3 adults skip doses or stop taking prescriptions because of high out-of-pocket prices, according to Visory Healths Alexandra Robertson.

• Experts recommend exploring cost-saving options like generic drugs, free prescription discount cards, and patient assistance programs to stay on track with treatment.

For millions of Americans, managing a health condition comes with a second diagnosis: sticker shock. Between rising prescription costs, shrinking insurance coverage, and fewer local pharmacies especially after major closures like Rite Aids many consumers are finding it harder than ever to fill (and afford) their medications.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Alexandra Robertson, Senior Vice President of Growth at Visory Health, about how consumers can better navigate these financial hurdles.

From understanding generic alternatives to using prescription discount platforms, Robertson shares practical ways to reduce out-of-pocket costs and improve medication adherence without sacrificing care.

Prices affect adherence

Robertson also explained that many consumers are foregoing their medications when prices become too high, which can lead to any number of health concerns.

The impact of high prescription prices is direct and deeply alarming, she said. They are forcing millions of Americans into the heartbreaking reality of choosing between critical medications and basic living expenses like groceries, electricity, or rent.

This financial burden is the primary driver of non-adherence. High prescription costs are forcing people to divert from their doctor-recommended treatment plans. About three in ten adults report not taking their medicines as prescribed, specifically because of the cost.

Saving on medications

Rather than skipping your medication, Robertson encourages consumers to take action, as there are ways to save on prescription drugs.

Here are her top tips:

• Generic brand vs. brand-name. Have an open dialogue with providers and pharmacists about switching from brand-name to generic medications when its possible and make sense. This is a proven cost-saving strategy given the price difference between a brand drug and a generic drug. Generics contain the same active ingredients and usually offer the same efficacy as their name-brand counterparts but at a fraction of the price.

• Free prescription discount cards. This is perhaps the most accessible and straightforward cost-saving strategy. These tools empower patients to save a significant percentage on thousands of drugs, sometimes up to 80% off or more depending on the medication. They are especially beneficial for individuals without insurance, those on high-deductible health insurance plans facing significant out-of-pocket expenses, and even seniors who dont have Medicare Part D. Prescription discount cards are easily accessible by searching their phone's app store, and dont require you to share your information or make an account.

• Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs). These can be a true lifeline for those who are underinsured or living on fixed incomes. These programs, offered by pharmaceutical manufacturers, provide free or low-cost access to expensive brand-name medications. Many people are unaware that such options exist, so it's critical to ask your provider if you might be eligible.

Empowering people with knowledge about affordable options is more critical than ever," Robertson said. "No one should have to choose between refilling a prescription and buying groceries.

From TVs to travel, heres where to find the best deals and which purchases are better left for later

• Not every November deal is a must-buy: It may be better to hold off on big-ticket items like furniture, linens, and fitness gear until after the holidays.

• Start shopping early but smartly: November offers great savings ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, giving shoppers time to compare prices and plan purchases without the chaos.

• Online shopping stretches your dollar further: Stacking promo codes, cash back, and rewards online to maximize savings and make your holiday budget work harder.

November is one of the biggest shopping months of the year, and for good reason. Between early Black Friday promotions, Cyber Week deals, and pre-holiday markdowns, its easy to get swept up in the excitementand the spending. But not every discount is as good as it looks.

To help consumers make the most of their money, ConsumerAffairs spoke with Stephanie Carls, shopping expert at RetailMeNot, about the best and worst categories to shop this month. Carls says November offers deep discounts on certain items like electronics and home goods, while others like winter apparel and furniture are often cheaper later in the season.

Whether youre shopping for holiday gifts or just trying to stretch your budget, knowing what to buy (and what to wait on) can make a big difference heading into the holidays.

Not everything is a must-buy

The biggest piece of advice for shopping in November: dont rush! You dont need to add everything to your cart to get the best deals.In fact, Carls recommends waiting on certain things.

November is full of amazing deals, but not everything is a must-buy, she said. Big items like furniture, fitness gear, and winter sports equipment are worth waiting on since the real markdowns hit in January.

The same goes for linens; the best prices pop up during the White Sales after the holidays. My rule of thumb is to shop for fun stuff now. Think beauty sets, cozy pajamas, and tech gifts you actually want to give. Save the boring stuff for later.

Savings all season long

While Black Friday and Cyber Monday get a lot of press, Carls said that there are deals to be found all holiday season long.

The best deals start rolling in around November, but the truth is there are savings all season long, she said. November gives you the head start. You have more time to compare, plan, and stack your savings without the holiday chaos creeping in. December still brings plenty of sales, but it can feel more like a sprint.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are still major shopping moments, but they no longer hold all the power, Carls added. Great deals drop all month, and the smartest shoppers are spreading out their purchases instead of waiting for one weekend. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are more of a highlight reel than a starting gun. If you shop early, you can grab some of the same prices without the stress. Saving money is not about chasing every deal. Its about shopping with purpose and knowing where your money works hardest.

Online > in-person shopping

When it comes to how you do your holiday shopping, Carls recommends opting for online instead of in-store for now.

Online shopping has the edge right now, she said. You can stack promo codes, cash back, and rewards without ever leaving the couch, and that is where the real savings magic happens.

In-store deals can still be great for doorbusters or quick pickups, but they rarely beat the total value you can get online. The smartest approach is to mix and match. Shop online to stack your savings, and then use in-store pickup to skip shipping costs and score your gifts faster.

Make your budget work for you

With so many money-saving and earning tools at consumers fingertips these days, Carls hopes that shoppers feel good about where and how they spend their money this season.

Holiday shopping is no longer about finding the cheapest price, she said. Its about being intentional with your purchases. Shoppers are planning earlier, comparing smarter, and looking for ways to make their money go further.

I always say the best feeling is when your cart gives something back. Whether that is cash back, rewards, or bonus offers, the goal is simple. Spend thoughtfully, save strategically, and make your budget work for you this season.