Oregon Seniors May Get Cheaper Weight Loss Drugs Under New Medicare Pilot Program

A new Medicare program will test whether weight loss medication for obesity effectively improves patient health and reduces treatment costs.

The Pilot Program Begins on Wednesday

Starting on Wednesday, July 1, a select group of overweight seniors will pay a $50 monthly copay to receive Wegovy, Zepbound, KwikPen, or Foundayo in a medical pilot program that will run until the end of 2027.

If federal health officials decide that the program is successful, the distribution of the weight loss medication, previously too expensive for Medicare patients to afford, will become permanent.

Qualifying Requirements

However, there are several requirements to qualify for the program.

Patients must be enrolled in a Medicare Part D drug plan.

They must have a body mass index of 35 or higher. This index indicates a weight that is significantly higher than what is considered healthy for an individual’s height, placing them at increased risk of severe health conditions.

Patients must also have prior authorization from a doctor or nursing practitioner.

Oregon Recorded the Largest Increase in Adult Obesity

Oregon recorded the largest increase in adult obesity in the nation between 2019 and 2024, according to a 2025 report by Trust for America’s Health.

This is confirmed by state data, which shows that 30% of Oregonians over 65 are obese, and 40% are overweight. However, it is ranked as the 28^th most obese state in the country.

Recipients Will Pay $50 for Medication Normally Costing Over $1,000

The pilot program will give older adults suffering from obesity access to prohibitively expensive medication that would normally cost them over $1,000 monthly.

The copayments will not count toward Medicare Part D annual out-of-pocket prescription spending and deductibles.

Until now, patients have either opted for bariatric surgery (shrinking the stomach to reduce food intake), usually covered by insurance, or had to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for private medical treatment.