Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program
On Medicare? Brand-name GLP-1s for $79 a month, all-in
Under the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program, eligible Medicare patients pay a fixed $50/month for brand-name GLP-1 medication. Add Imbue's $29/month membership — the lowest published fee in GLP-1 telehealth — and your total cost is $79/month: the lowest total cost in the industry for physician-led, brand-name GLP-1 treatment.
Last clinically reviewed: July 20, 2026 by Dr. Prajeet Reddy, MD (Medical Director)
$29/mo membership · no contracts · no charge if not prescribed
What the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program is
Medicare Part D historically excluded weight-loss medications. That changed in 2026: the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched the BALANCE initiative, and with it a GLP-1 Bridge Program that lets eligible Part D beneficiaries receive brand-name GLP-1 medication for a fixed $50/month co-pay — a fraction of cash-pay pricing.
Imbue Health is built to make this program effortless. Your Imbue physician handles the clinical evaluation and prescription; LillyDirect (Eli Lilly) or NovoCare (Novo Nordisk) receives the prescription and initiates the prior authorization with your Medicare plan directly. You don't chase paperwork.
Who qualifies
The program uses clinical criteria your Imbue physician will confirm during your evaluation. You may qualify if:
- Your body mass index (BMI) is 35 or higher, OR
- Your BMI is 30 or higher AND you have at least one of: heart failure (with preserved ejection fraction), uncontrolled high blood pressure (systolic above 140 mm Hg or diastolic above 90 mm Hg despite concurrent treatment with two blood-pressure medications), or chronic kidney disease (stage 3a or above), OR
- Your BMI is 27 or higher AND you have a history of: pre-diabetes, heart attack, stroke, or symptomatic peripheral artery disease.
Which medications are covered
From Novo Nordisk (via NovoCare): all doses of Wegovy® — both the weekly injection pen and the daily Oral Wegovy® tablet.
From Eli Lilly (via LillyDirect): the Zepbound® KwikPen and Foundayo™ (orforglipron) only. Zepbound® single-dose vials are not eligible under the Lilly program — if you're a Medicare patient choosing tirzepatide, your physician will prescribe the KwikPen presentation.
Both manufacturers publish their own Medicare program details:
What it costs — the lowest total in the industry
Eligible patients pay $50/month for medication under the program — every covered medication, every dose. Imbue's membership is $29/month, covering your physician evaluation, prescription, dose management, side-effect support, and unlimited care-team messaging.
Total: $79/month, all-in. Based on published membership fees and the program's fixed co-pay, no other GLP-1 telehealth program offers a lower total monthly cost for brand-name medication as of July 2026.
How it works at Imbue
Complete the 5-minute online assessment and note that you have Medicare. An Imbue physician licensed in your state reviews your history and confirms whether you meet the program's clinical criteria. If appropriate, your prescription goes to NovoCare (Wegovy® pen or pill) or LillyDirect (Zepbound® KwikPen or Foundayo™), and the pharmacy initiates the prior authorization with your Medicare plan.
Once your plan approves, medication ships to your door at the $50/month program price. If your plan doesn't approve coverage, nothing is lost — Imbue's standard cash-pay pricing through the same manufacturer pharmacies remains available, and you're never charged the membership fee unless a physician takes over your care.
Frequently asked questions
Does Imbue accept Medicare?
Imbue's $29/month membership is cash-pay, but Imbue actively utilizes the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program for medication: your physician sends the prescription to LillyDirect or NovoCare, the pharmacy initiates the prior authorization with your Medicare plan, and eligible patients pay a fixed $50/month for brand-name GLP-1 medication.
Who is eligible for the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program?
Medicare Part D beneficiaries who meet clinical criteria: BMI 35+; or BMI 30+ with heart failure (preserved ejection fraction), uncontrolled high blood pressure (above 140 systolic or 90 diastolic despite two blood-pressure medications), or chronic kidney disease (stage 3a+); or BMI 27+ with a history of pre-diabetes, heart attack, stroke, or symptomatic peripheral artery disease. Your Imbue physician confirms eligibility during your evaluation.
Which GLP-1 medications does the program cover?
Through NovoCare: all doses of Wegovy®, both the weekly pen and the daily Oral Wegovy® tablet. Through LillyDirect: the Zepbound® KwikPen and Foundayo™ only — Zepbound® single-dose vials are not eligible from Eli Lilly.
What if my prior authorization is denied?
The pharmacy initiates the prior authorization and Imbue's care team supports the process, but approval is your Medicare plan's decision. If coverage isn't approved, you can continue with Imbue's standard cash-pay pricing — medication from $149/month through the same manufacturer pharmacies — or your physician can discuss alternatives.
Is $79/month really the lowest cost available?
For eligible Medicare patients, yes, to our knowledge: $50/month is the program's fixed medication co-pay regardless of dose, and $29/month is the lowest published membership fee in GLP-1 telehealth. Combined at $79/month all-in, we're not aware of any lower total monthly cost for physician-led, brand-name GLP-1 treatment as of July 2026.
See if you qualify — free
A licensed physician reviews your health history, usually within 48 hours. $29/mo membership only if prescribed — the lowest fee in GLP-1 telehealth. Cancel anytime.