Summary

The Biden administration proposed requiring Medicare and Medicaid to cover weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, reclassifying obesity as a chronic disease to expand access for millions.

This would reduce out-of-pocket costs, but federal spending could rise by $36 billion over a decade.

Critics, like Sen. Bernie Sanders, warn high drug prices could strain the system, while experts argue reduced obesity-related complications may lower long-term healthcare costs.

The plan faces a 60-day comment period, leaving its implementation uncertain under the incoming Trump administration.

  • @finitebanjo
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    14 hours ago

    Can’t believe so many fucking idiots chose Trump over this guy and Harris.

    • @pivot_root
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      11 hours ago

      From the ones I have talked with, the Trump voter mindset seems to be “Democrats don’t know the struggles of the real world” while Mr. Untouchable apparently does. Considering how deep into the partisan kool-aid they are, this is actually not surprising.

  • @[email protected]
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    913 hours ago

    Lowering how much fucking sugar, corn syrup and palm oil go into all the food would be the proper thing to do. Can’t mess with the oligopolies though. Growth for growth’s sake, as always. This way the pharmaceutical oligopolies also get to expand.

  • @[email protected]
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    1715 hours ago

    I can only speak for myself but I did about 3 months of this stuff and lost 60lbs. It works really fucking well. It did cost a fortune though. It would be great for people to have access to these drugs.

    • @Psychodelic
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      514 hours ago

      Congrats! That sounds pretty good

      Is it true you have to stay on it or you gain the weight back?

      • @Nurse_Robot
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        714 hours ago

        Anecdotally yes, from those I’ve known who have taken it. That’s why lifestyle change is really the only way to genuinely lose weight and keep it off

        • Ben Hur Horse Race
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          713 hours ago

          the thing is maintaining weight is one thing, while running at a massive deficit to lose weight is much, much harder.

          with these weight loss drugs, the deficit is basically going to happen whether you like it or not because you can’t eat.

          when you come off of it, you’re going to have to eat less than you did when you put the weight on, but you basically get to skip the difficulty of running at a huge deficit for months in order to lose it.

        • @Psychodelic
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          113 hours ago

          Yeah, that’s what kinda “ruins” it for me. I mean, I’m not obese, just overweight, but it still sounds like a miracle drug

          I’m hoping that one day we can just add something to high-calorie food that simply cancels out any weight gain that would result from eating it. lol. That’d be pretty sweet!

          • Cris
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            412 hours ago

            I mean insoluble fiber will just straight up make you feel more full. I have friends who take a capsule of psillium husk with every meal. I use it for gut issues in the form of a drink mix, but it definitely makes me feel full, which isn’t helpful since I have an eating disorder and need to eat more 😅

          • @[email protected]
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            112 hours ago

            The drug is great for folks who need to go from 300 to 200lbs. But 200 to 160 is whatever. People using it to stay slim is, I mean it can work but it’s a huge deal for folks who are so overweight it causes a loop. You get depressed or stressed, you eat away the pain, you get fat. Then even if you fix your life you’re still fat and now that causes the stress and depression.

  • @[email protected]
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    1214 hours ago

    Getting people who’s weight is their primary health issue into a better situation is good. It saves costs for them and their community.