Over 600,000 Californians could lose access to popular weight loss drug

"Over half a million Californians could lose access to the hugely popular GLP-1 weight loss drugs starting Jan. 1, 2026, after the state government decided to deny some Medi-Cal coverage for the prescription drugs in an effort to save money. GLP-1 drugs have become a blockbuster hit for people aiming to lose weight following the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the name-brand drug Wegovy in 2021."

"California's Medi-Cal program, the state's Medicaid program that covers low-income people and those with disabilities, was paying for over 660,000 people to take various GLP-1 drugs in 2023, CalMatters reported. The state will no longer cover those prescriptions if the patient was prescribed the drug for strictly weight loss. However, the state will still cover certain GLP-1 drugs if they are prescribed for other indications, such as diabetes, heart disease or chronic kidney disease."

"The coverage loss comes after President Donald Trump cut Medicaid spending by more than $900 billion over the course of the next decade, which means less money will flow to states to pay for the health care programs. States across the country have been scrambling to find cost savings in their Medicaid programs, including cutting coverage for GLP-1 drugs. Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration proposed the cuts as part of a way to trim Medi-Cal's costs."

California will stop Medi-Cal coverage for GLP-1 prescriptions written solely for weight loss beginning Jan. 1, 2026, while retaining coverage when the drugs are prescribed for conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or chronic kidney disease. Name brands affected include Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro and Zepbound. Medi-Cal paid for more than 660,000 people to use GLP-1 drugs in 2023, but the number of enrollees prescribed them exclusively for weight loss is unclear. A national poll found 38% of adults who ever used the medications took them only to lose weight. The state expects to save $85 million in 2025-26 and $790 million by 2028-29.

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