Ozempic/Wegovy have become a hot topic when it comes to weight loss — with some stars confirming they have used the drug while others denying it. Is it covered by Medicare? Can there be other benefits to using it? We dive deeper on this week’s edition of Over64.
-The Editors

🏥Medicare Watch:

Could Medicare Start Covering Wegovy for Millions with Obesity?

The FDA recently approved Wegovy (semaglutide) for a new use: reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people with cardiovascular disease who are also overweight or obese. This is significant because Wegovy, originally an anti-obesity drug, could now be covered by Medicare, opening the door for millions of people to access this medication.

Wegovy is part of a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, initially designed to treat type 2 diabetes but also highly effective for weight loss. Before this new approval, Medicare was not allowed to cover Wegovy specifically for obesity. However, since semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy) is already covered for diabetes under the brand name Ozempic, this new heart-related use might qualify it for Medicare coverage.

What does this mean?
With the FDA's approval, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has indicated that Medicare Part D plans can now include Wegovy in their drug lists. Since Wegovy is a self-administered injectable drug, it would be covered under Part D, Medicare's outpatient drug benefit.

So, who could benefit? 
An estimated 3.6 million Medicare beneficiaries could be eligible for Wegovy under this new use. These are people who have a history of heart problems and are also overweight or obese. This group represents about one in four Medicare recipients with obesity or overweight.

However, not everyone who qualifies may decide to use Wegovy. Some might be concerned about side effects or the cost. Wegovy's list price is around $1,300 per month, and Medicare patients might have to pay between $325 and $430 out of pocket each month, depending on their insurance plan. These costs could make the drug unaffordable for some, especially those on fixed incomes.

While some Medicare drug plans may start covering Wegovy soon, others might wait until 2025. The impact on Medicare spending will depend on how many people use the drug and how plans negotiate prices. If Wegovy becomes widely covered, it could have a big impact on Medicare spending and open the door for more anti-obesity drugs to be covered in the future.

Read more.

🤔Three Truths and a Lie.

Since we’re diving into Ozempic and weight loss this week, we thought it’d be fun to test your knowledge with a weight loss game! Can you spot out the one fake fact? Click the fact to find out if you got it right!

1. Obese people have fewer taste buds.

2. Adequate sleep helps with weight loss.

3. Shivering in the cold can make you lose weight.

4. Yawning burns calories.

📚Study of the week:

Could Weight-Loss Drugs Like Ozempic and Wegovy Slow Aging?

Recent discussions in the medical community have highlighted the potential of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which contain semaglutide, to offer benefits beyond their intended use. According to research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Conference in London, semaglutide may contribute not only to weight loss but also to extending life and improving overall health.

Semaglutide is already known to reduce the risk of death in overweight or obese individuals with cardiovascular disease. However, new studies suggest that the drug’s impact might be broader. Some researchers have observed that individuals taking Ozempic had lower mortality rates from a variety of causes, not limited to cardiovascular issues.

“Semaglutide’s potential benefits could extend beyond heart health,” said Professor Harlan Krumholz from the Yale School of Medicine. “The data suggests that improving overall health in this way might even have implications for slowing the aging process.”

These insights come from the Select trial in the United States, which involved 17,604 participants aged 45 and older who were overweight or obese and had established cardiovascular disease but did not have diabetes. Over a three-year period, participants were given either semaglutide or a placebo.

Out of 833 participants who passed away during the study, 58% of deaths were linked to cardiovascular causes, while 42% were due to other factors, such as infections. Interestingly, those who were treated with semaglutide had a lower incidence of deaths from infections, alongside a consistently lower risk of adverse cardiovascular events.

Dr. Benjamin Scirica, a Harvard professor and the lead author of one of the studies, remarked, “The reduction in non-cardiovascular deaths, particularly from infections, was unexpected. This reinforces the idea that being overweight or obese can elevate the risk of death from various causes, which may be reduced with appropriate therapies like semaglutide.”

While these findings are promising, it’s important to note that experts caution against viewing semaglutide as a quick fix or a substitute for a healthy diet and regular exercise. This medication should only be used under the supervision of a healthcare professional, as it can have side effects and associated risks.

Link to the study.

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