Prevalence of Obesity and Related Conditions and GLP ‐1 Use in Medicare Fee‐for‐Service Beneficiaries
Authors' conclusion
Coverage via secondary conditions may broaden potential access to anti-obesity medications for Medicare FFS patients, but eligibility alone may not translate into actual treatment uptake unless affordability and other barriers are addressed.
Study context
- Population
- Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged ≥18 years, alive and continuously enrolled in Parts A, B and D, 1 January 2023–31 December 2024with Part D
- Participants
- 16,474,786 beneficiaries
- Outcome
- Number and percentage of beneficiaries who use GLP-1 RAs, are currently eligible or could become eligible if ongoing-trial indications are approved and covered
Methodological detailsclaims-based, 100% of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries
- Claims-based
- 100% of Medicare FFS beneficiaries
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Had GLP-1 RAs
- 6.2%
- Currently covered GLP-1 indication (T2D, established CVD with overweight/obesity, obstructive sleep apnoea with obesity or MASH)
- 35.1%
- GLP-1 RA claim among those with a currently covered condition
- 16.5%
- ≥1 currently covered or potential future indication
- 76.9%
- Obesity alone, ineligible under current policy
- 1.2 million (7.0%)
- Currently ineligible who could gain access if HF with preserved ejection fraction, CKD, psoriasis and/or knee osteoarthritis were covered
- 35% (n = 407 085)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Prevalence of Obesity and Related Conditions and GLP ‐1 Use in Medicare Fee‐for‐Service Beneficiaries. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 25 June 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →