Trump Nixes Medicare Obesity Drug Coverage What Does This Mean For Your Waistline and Wallet?!

Higher Further Faster… Prices!

Hey Binary Breathers! It's your friendly neighborhood Captain Marvel reporting from... well not space this time but the wild world of healthcare! Seems like things on Earth are getting a little… complicated. You know just like trying to explain quantum physics to Goose – it's possible but you might lose a few brain cells in the process. So the lowdown is this: Remember that proposal to have Medicare cover those fancy schmancy obesity drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound? Yeah well it's been shot down faster than a Kree missile by yours truly. Apparently Former President Trump swooped in and said 'Nope not on my watch!' before the Biden administration could finalize it. Talk about a plot twist!

A Billion Here a Billion There Pretty Soon You're Talking Real Money

Now why the sudden change of heart? Well as Rhodey would say 'Boom! You lookin' for this?!' (But instead of a weapon it's a giant stack of cash). This proposal while potentially helping millions get access to these drugs would have cost the government billions! We're talking about $35 billion over nine years people! That's enough to build like a thousand Alpha Flights! And let's be real many health plans already don't cover weight loss treatments leaving folks to shell out roughly $1,000 before insurance. Even I wouldn't want to pay that much!

BMI: The Only Metric That Matters… Or Does It?

So who would have even qualified for this coverage? Only those considered 'obese' with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Which is all well and good until you consider that BMI isn't a super accurate way to measure someones health. Anyway some people may already get coverage through Medicare or Medicaid if they've got other conditions like diabetes or a risk of stroke or heart disease but even that is a may. It's enough to make you want to just fly to space and forget about everything!

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly: Silence of the Pharma Giants

I tried getting comment from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly the makers of Wegovy and Zepbound but it was like trying to get a straight answer from a Skrull – complete radio silence. Meanwhile their stock prices took a dive faster than I can fly through an asteroid field. Shares of Lilly fell more than 2% while Novo Nordisk's stock dropped more than 1%. Ouch! I guess someone's not having shawarma tonight.

Second Chances? Don't Hold Your Breath

Now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is saying they might reconsider coverage of these drugs in the future. But honestly I wouldn't hold my breath. In the meantime maybe we can all try eating healthier and exercising more... Yeah I know easier said than done when you're saving the universe. But hey a girl can dream right?

What's Next? Only Time Will Tell...

So what's the takeaway? Well like Nick Fury always says 'There was an idea…' but this time the idea didn't quite stick the landing. Keep an eye on this story folks because it's sure to have more twists and turns than a cosmic wormhole. And remember even if healthcare policy seems confusing you're stronger and more powerful than you think! Excelsior!