The “Before” and “After” photos are breaking the internet.

Facebook groups, Reddit threads and gobs of other social media posts sing its praises.

But there are just as many queries as to where to buy lower cost versions of what some call “the fat shot.”

Others call it a life-changing gift.

And everyone calls it expensive.

Regardless of the chatter, anti-obesity medication has proven to be a highly successful weight-loss tool for millions. 

Yet millions more have been priced out of the high co-pays — especially retirees on fixed incomes.

Older American women on Medicare will greatly benefit from the proposed White House deal starting around the middle of next year.

It’s not just their medical health but their financial well-being that will also get a boost.

Older women on Medicare will get a double benefit from the recent deal between the White House and the makers of two popular anti-obesity drugs, including Zepbound.

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Anti-obesity drugs prove popular but pricey

Known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, the drugs have soared in popularity in recent years.

  • More than 100 million American adults are obese, according to federal estimates. 
  • More than two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries can be classified as ‘obese’ (34%) or ‘overweight’ (35%) according to the American College of Gastroenterology.
  • About 46% of women aged 65–74 are obese and about 36% of women aged 75+ have obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Patient access has been a consistent problem because of the high cost of anti-obesity drugs especially for Medicare recipients.

Medicare does not pay for these drugs for weight loss alone.

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Medicare recipients who have specific medical conditions such as sleep apnea, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease face out-of-pocket co-payments starting around $500 monthly.

Older Americans who self-pay because they are not eligible under those Medicare rules shell out as much as over $1,000 a month. 

And even after a patient reaches her goal weight, she must stay on a maintenance dose for the rest of her life to keep the pounds off.

White House strikes deal with two anti-obesity drug firms

The White House unveiled a plan Nov. 6 with pharma giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to expand coverage and reduce prices for their popular obesity drugs Zepbound and Wegovy.

Co-payments for eligible patients on Medicare will be no more than $50 a month beginning in the middle of next year, the Trump Administration says.

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CMS head Dr. Mehmet Oz said that making these medications more accessible will ultimately save American taxpayers money by reducing the downstream costs associated with obesity-related conditions for the elderly like heart disease, diabetes and renal failure.

The medications have proven especially lucrative for Lilly and Novo. 

Lilly said recently that sales of Zepbound have tripled so far this year to more than $9 billion.

Aging process is especially cruel to women

Older women find they develop multiple symptoms as they age especially related to the hormonal hijinks that arise during the menopausal years.

And never quite go away.

According to medical professionals, menopause contributes to weight gain primarily through metabolic slowdown and changes in how the body stores fat, driven by declining estrogen levels and age-related muscle loss.

As if hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats and brain fog aren’t enough to endure, menopausal women start to find it’s much easier to gain weight and much, much harder to lose it. 

Add side effects from prescription drugs, slower activity levels and diets that tend to drift carb-heavy, and the scales tip higher then stay there.

That extra weight doesn’t just mean clothes — and yes, even shoes — no longer fit. 

It also can impact overall health and elevate the risk of serious chronic diseases including Type 2 diabetes, heart attacks and strokes, and arthritis especially in the hips, knees and lower back.

Women on Medicare gain financial rewards

GLP-1 drugs are just a tool for weight loss. Dietary changes and increased activity are also a must. 

All of which adds up for retirees on fixed incomes, especially the way inflation is ratcheting up the price of groceries and over-the-counter drugs and supplies.

That’s why the reality that Medicare recipients will soon pay less for weight-loss drugs could be a game-changer for women who must stay on these medications for life to maintain their healthy goal weight, according to TheStreet’s Senior Retirement Editor Robert Powell, CFP(r), RMA(r).

“Since women tend to live longer and are often less financially prepared for retirement, lower prices mean they’ll be able to afford to remain on GLP-1 drugs,’’ he said.

“Given the challenges women face in retirement — longer lifespans, the lingering effects of caregiving, higher rates of chronic illness, and a greater likelihood of aging alone — this is truly good news,’’ Powell said.

But as always, the devil is in the details.

“Many of the Medicare Part D formularies for 2026 are already locked in, so beneficiaries may need to (reconsider) their coverage before open enrollment ends on Dec. 7 or, for those in Medicare Advantage with drug coverage, during the first quarter of 2026,’’ Powell said.

If their plan doesn’t cover the medication, Medicare beneficiaries will have the fallback option of buying it through TrumpRx.gov, Powell said.

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