Older Adults’ Views on Insurance Coverage for Weight Management Medications
Authors' conclusion
In this survey study of older US adults, most participants agreed that Medicare should cover weight management medications and more than half of those with BMI of 30 or greater were interested in using them. These results should inform decisions to include weight management medications in the Medicare and commercial insurance programs, as well as utilization policies to control health care costs.
Study context
- Population
- US adults aged 50 to 80 years, July 2023 National Poll on Healthy Aging
- Participants
- 2,657 respondents
- Outcome
- Interest in taking weight management medication and perceptions about coverage of FDA-approved weight management medications by insurers, including Medicare
Methodological detailssurvey study, nationally representative sample, Data analyzed August to November 2023
- Survey study
- Nationally representative sample
- Data analyzed August to November 2023
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Interested in using weight management medications, overall
- 35.1% (95% CI, 31.9%-38.4%)
- Interested in using weight management medications, body mass index (BMI) ≥30
- 59.1% (95% CI, 53.4%-64.5%)
- Agreed health insurance should cover weight management medications
- 2176 of 2625 respondents [83.2%]
- Favored Medicare coverage of such medications
- 2097 of 2616 respondents [75.7%]
- Approved of paying more for a Medicare premium to ensure coverage
- 829 of 2604 respondents [30.2%]
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Factors associated with interest in weight management medications
- Past use of these medications, aOR
- 7.57 (95% CI, 4.41-13.02)
- BMI ≥30, aOR
- 5.04 (95% CI, 3.48-7.30)
Original publication
Older Adults’ Views on Insurance Coverage for Weight Management Medications. JAMA Netw Open. Published 3 March 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →