Older Americans Overwhelmingly Back Medicare Coverage of Critical Obesity Treatments as CMS Considers Transformational Proposal to Expand Obesity Care
April 5, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new study conducted by the University of Michigan found that the vast majority of older adults in the U.S. support efforts to expand obesity care under Medicare. The survey, which polled over 2,500 adults between the ages of 50-80, indicated that 75% of respondents favor Medicare coverage of critical, FDA-approved anti-obesity medications (AOMs), while more than 83% believe that health insurance should cover AOMs.
The findings come on the heels of a series of similar surveys released in February reinforcing growing support for Medicare coverage of anti-obesity medications. In February, the Obesity Care Advocacy Network found 71% of Americans support the Trump administration finalizing a proposed policy change to expand Medicare coverage to include obesity treatment (including prescription medications). In a separate poll the same month, the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition found that nearly 70% of Republicans and voters who supported President Donald Trump support Medicare and Medicaid coverage of anti-obesity medications.
Growing Momentum for Urgent Action on Obesity
The polling mirrors growing momentum being generated across the country in support of expanding obesity care.
In recent months, an increasing number of medical experts, lawmakers, health care advocates, and community leaders have called on the Centers for Medicaid Services (CMS) to take urgent action by finalizing a proposal to expand coverage to include these treatments. Nearly 20,000 grassroots advocates from all 50 states joined the Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Disease (HECCD) in signing a petition last January urging CMS to adopt the rule. At the same time, a dozen national advocacy organizations joined the coalition in signing onto a separate letter to CMS arguing that current policies are inequitable — especially impacting older Americans living in rural and underserved communities who experience disproportionately higher rates of obesity.
Under current rules, Medicare beneficiaries can access these treatments for illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes that are often driven by obesity, but not for obesity itself. By finalizing the proposed rule, CMS would bring life-saving obesity care to as many as 7.5 million Americans and save Medicare an estimated $175 billion in the first 10 years alone.
Obesity Epidemic Comes at High Cost
The total cost of chronic diseases due to obesity was $1.72 trillion in 2016, which is more than the federal government spent last year on Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance subsidies combined. These high costs fall on taxpayers and individuals. Researchers at the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center project that coverage for new obesity treatments could save Medicare $175 billion in the first 10 years alone. If obesity and their extreme costs persist and grow, the problems will get worse, and they will get worse for historically disadvantaged communities of color far more than others.
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The Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Disease (HECCD) believes that all people deserve the best possible health care. Continuing to allow outdated coverage policies to restrict access for communities dependent on public programs is counter to the principles of health equity. The Health Equity Coalition for Chronic Disease’s mission is to ensure that community experts, policy makers, providers, and other stakeholders work together to eliminate barriers to healthcare for rural communities, seniors, and communities of color, especially as related to access to care and treatment for obesity.
