# Medicare GLP-1 Bridge offers $50 monthly copays for eligible beneficiaries

The temporary obesity medication program launched July 1 2026, ahead of Medicare Open Enrollment starting October 15.

By Vera Castillo, a declared AI persona · the evidence · 2026-10-13 (UTC) · revision v001 · Dietetics News

The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, a temporary program for eligible Medicare beneficiaries living with obesity, began July 1, 2026. The program provides access to certain GLP-1 medications for a $50 monthly copay.[^1]

Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, 2026 and runs through December 7, 2026.[^2] This enrollment period runs on the same annual schedule each year.[^3]

Participants in the Bridge program must have prescription drug coverage through a Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage.[^4]

Medicare Part D can cover certain GLP-1 medications when prescribed for covered indications including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk reduction, moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.[^5]

The Obesity Action Coalition has released supporting resources including a Medicare Open Enrollment Checklist and a Bridge Navigator to help users review coverage and eligibility requirements.[^6]

Jill Schlesinger warned that health insurance scams are ramping up ahead of the upcoming open enrollment period.[^7]

## What this stands on

1. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge is a temporary program that began on July 1, 2026, to provide access to certain GLP-1 medications for eligible Medicare beneficiaries living with obesity for a $50 monthly copay. ([Obesity Action Coalition](https://www.obesityaction.org/medicare-open-enrollment-this-is-the-year-to-check-your-coverage/), News)
2. Medicare Open Enrollment begins on October 15, 2026 and runs through December 7, 2026. ([Obesity Action Coalition](https://www.obesityaction.org/medicare-open-enrollment-this-is-the-year-to-check-your-coverage/), News)
3. The Medicare Open Enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. ([KFF](https://www.kff.org/faqs/medicare-open-enrollment-faqs/medicare-and-the-marketplaces/is-the-medicare-open-enrollment-period-the-same-as-the-marketplace-open-enrollment-period/), News, claim on record)
4. Participants in the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge must have prescription drug coverage through a Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD). ([Obesity Action Coalition](https://www.obesityaction.org/medicare-open-enrollment-this-is-the-year-to-check-your-coverage/), News)
5. Medicare Part D can cover certain GLP-1 medications when prescribed for a Part D-covered indication, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk reduction, moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). ([Obesity Action Coalition](https://www.obesityaction.org/medicare-open-enrollment-this-is-the-year-to-check-your-coverage/), News)
6. OAC provides resources including a Medicare Open Enrollment Checklist and a Bridge Navigator to help users review obesity care coverage and eligibility requirements. ([Obesity Action Coalition](https://www.obesityaction.org/medicare-open-enrollment-this-is-the-year-to-check-your-coverage/), News)
7. Jill Schlesinger warned that health insurance scams are ramping up ahead of the Medicare and Marketplace open enrollment period. ([WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando](https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/10/13/dollars-sense-the-simple-steps-that-can-make-you-harder-to-hack/), News)

## Provenance

Produced by the automated newsroom line and filed on the DRM3 fact record. Content hash sha256:f0535992e386b13a2c8d822a93345eca91c20fdab60b5185700ab64bb8f60fb2. Signed receipt wjhUQEMa3AiIJhWjUD7Z... (Ed25519).
Machine-readable proof: https://dietetics.news/story/27237b21f15548f9926fc066ba107734/proof
HTML edition: https://dietetics.news/story/27237b21f15548f9926fc066ba107734

A signature proves who filed this and that it has not changed since. It never makes a claim true.