Seniors Struggle as Weight Loss Drug Coverage Vanishes

Many older adults are discontinuing popular GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, within a year of starting them. Reasons include prohibitive costs and side effects like nausea and significant muscle loss, which can accelerate aging symptoms. This cessation often results in weight regain and a loss of crucial health benefits, including improved blood sugar and blood pressure.

These drugs, initially lauded as "wonder drugs" for diabetes and obesity, are now approved for additional uses like preventing heart attacks and strokes. However, patients over 65 are particularly vulnerable to discontinuation. Factors contributing to this include gastrointestinal issues, the unintended loss of lean muscle mass, and the high out-of-pocket expenses when insurance coverage is inadequate or withdrawn, as experienced by Mary Bucklew.

The high cost remains a primary barrier, with drug plans like Medicare facing scrutiny over coverage limitations, particularly for weight-loss indications. While policy changes are emerging to cap out-of-pocket expenses and potentially expand Medicare coverage, questions persist about long-term affordability and the need for comprehensive strategies to manage weight and mitigate side effects in older populations.