Recently, President Trump announced a new deal with drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to lower the prices of popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs. The goal is to make these medications more affordable for some Americans, especially those on Medicare and Medicaid. But many questions remain about how much this deal will actually help and who will benefit the most.

What’s in the Price Deal and Who Can Access It?

The deal sets a price of $245 a month for drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound for eligible patients. People on Medicare will pay a $50 co-pay. These prices are a big cut from the drugs’ list prices — for example, Ozempic’s list price is nearly $1,000. But most people don’t pay the full list price; they pay what their insurance covers. It’s not clear how much Medicare and Medicaid would have paid before this deal, or how much money will be saved.

Right now, federal programs can’t cover weight-loss drugs. The Biden administration tried to change that, aiming to let 3.4 million Medicare and 4 million Medicaid patients access these drugs. But the Trump administration rejected that plan. Instead, only people with certain health conditions and body mass indexes (BMI) over specific thresholds will qualify for the lower prices. For example, those with a BMI over 27 who also have pre-diabetes, a stroke, or heart problems could qualify. People with higher BMI and additional health issues might also be eligible.

However, there’s a catch. The Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” might cause millions to lose their federal health coverage, which could limit access even further. So, while some will benefit from the new prices, others could end up with less coverage overall.

Are Lower Prices Really Making a Difference?

In addition to the discounts for federal programs, the companies also announced lower prices for direct-to-consumer sales. Currently, you can buy Wegovy and Zepbound for about $499 each. But under the new deal, Wegovy and Ozempic will cost $350, and Zepbound will be around $346. While that’s cheaper, paying out of pocket still might be more expensive than using insurance, and these payments don’t count toward insurance deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums.

Experts aren’t sure if these new prices will significantly lower overall drug costs or influence prices for people with private insurance plans. President Trump called these prices “most favored-nation pricing,” but even with discounts, U.S. prices are still higher than in many other countries. For example, Ozempic costs around $155 in Canada and just $59 in Germany, far less than in the U.S.

Research suggests that manufacturing costs for these drugs are under $5 for a month’s supply. This raises questions about how much profit drug companies are making and whether the lower prices are enough to make a real difference for everyday Americans.

The Future of GLP-1 Drugs and Cost Savings

Looking ahead, the companies plan to release a pill version of their GLP-1 drugs, priced at $150 for federal programs and consumers. But these pills aren’t yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration or available on the market. Until then, it’s impossible to say how much money they might save consumers.

Overall, the new pricing deal is a step toward making weight-loss and diabetes drugs more affordable for some. But many questions about who will truly benefit and how much money will be saved remain unanswered. As these drugs become more accessible, it’s important for patients and policymakers alike to keep a close eye on how these changes play out in real life.

Inspired by

• https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/11/questions-swirl-after-trumps-glp-1-pricing-deal-announcement/

Sources

• conde.digital
• cnevids.com
• whitehouse.gov
• cms.gov
• cbsnews.com