{"id":634036,"date":"2025-10-21T15:28:06","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T19:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=634036"},"modified":"2026-01-28T14:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T19:06:12","slug":"singlecare-glp1s-with-medicaid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/singlecare-glp1s-with-medicaid\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I use SingleCare for GLP-1s if I\u2019m on Medicaid?"},"content":{"rendered":"

GLP-1 drugs<\/span><\/a> (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) are <\/span>medications<\/span> that can effectively manage appetite and food intake, help improve <\/span>blood sugar levels<\/span>, and aid in <\/span>weight loss<\/span>. They are <\/span>FDA<\/span> approved to treat <\/span>Type<\/span> 2 <\/span>diabetes<\/span>, <\/span>heart disease risk <\/span>reduction, sleep apnea, and <\/span>obesity<\/span>. But <\/span>researchers<\/span> have found that they may also be <\/span>effective in treating conditions<\/span><\/a> like kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy, polycystic ovarian syndrome, liver disease, and even neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson\u2019s and Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

All of this is why demand for <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> has increased exponentially in the past few years. For example, research published in JAMA Network Open found that between 2018 and 2023, spending on <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> increased by a whopping 500%, from $13.7 billion to $71.7 billion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, although demand is high, it can still be challenging to get your <\/span>GLP-1 medications<\/span> covered by your health insurance. If you are on <\/span>Medicaid<\/span>, you may be having trouble receiving <\/span>coverage<\/span> for your <\/span>GLP-1<\/span>. That\u2019s where SingleCare can help. <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> patients who are not covered for <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> can save on out-of-pocket expenses by using a SingleCare savings card.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you use SingleCare for <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> if on <\/span>Medicaid<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re on <\/span>Medicaid<\/span>, you may be wondering how a SingleCare savings card can help you afford your <\/span>GLP-1 medication<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, it\u2019s important to understand the difference between a manufacturer savings card and a SingleCare cash-pay coupon. <\/span>Manufacturer savings cards<\/span><\/a>, sometimes called copay cards, are funded by <\/span>drug<\/span> manufacturers to help make <\/span>medications<\/span> more affordable to patients, and can lower some of the out-of-pocket expenses of <\/span>prescription<\/span> medications<\/span>. While manufacturer savings cards can be helpful, <\/span>people<\/span> on <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> are ineligible to use them due to federal kickback laws.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other <\/span>hand<\/span>, SingleCare savings cards can be used <\/span>if you have <\/span>Medicaid<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s important to keep in mind that you can\u2019t use a SingleCare savings at the same time as, or in combination with, your <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> insurance.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, let\u2019s say the <\/span>GLP-1 drug<\/span> you want to take isn\u2019t covered by <\/span>Medicaid<\/span>. In this case, you could use your SingleCare card at the pharmacy to save on your <\/span>medication<\/span>, but you couldn\u2019t use your <\/span>Medicaid coverage<\/span> or <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> card. Your SingleCard card would reduce the out-of-pocket amount you could have to pay for the <\/span>medication<\/span> that <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> doesn\u2019t cover.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> cover <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Medicaid coverage<\/span><\/a> for <\/span>medications<\/span> varies from one <\/span>state<\/span> to another, depending on <\/span>state-specific<\/span> rules and regulations. \u201cGenerally, most <\/span>state Medicaid programs<\/span> cover <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> for the treatment of <\/span>Type<\/span> 2 <\/span>diabetes<\/span>, <\/span>cardiovascular disease<\/span>, and <\/span>obstructive sleep apnea<\/span>,\u201d says Jennifer Brown, MD, board-certified <\/span>obesity<\/span> medicine doctor at <\/span>MyObesityTeam<\/span><\/a>. This means that <\/span>medications<\/span> like <\/span>Ozempic<\/span>, Mounjaro, and Trulicity are typically covered by <\/span>Medicaid for those indications<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

But when it comes to covering <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> for <\/span>obesity treatment<\/span>, that\u2019s a different story. \u201cMany <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> programs do not cover <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> for the <\/span>treatment of obesity<\/span>,\u201d Dr. Brown says. This includes <\/span>medications<\/span> like <\/span>Wegovy<\/span> and Zepbound, which are specifically indicated for <\/span>weight loss<\/span>. \u201cIt\u2019s ultimately up to each individual <\/span>state<\/span> to decide whether they cover <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> for <\/span>weight loss<\/span>,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> will usually cover <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> like <\/span>Ozempic<\/span>, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for the treatment of <\/span>health conditions<\/span> like <\/span>Type<\/span> 2 <\/span>diabetes<\/span>, you might be wondering if it\u2019s possible to prescribe these off-label for <\/span>weight loss<\/span> and have <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> cover them. \u201cAttempting to prescribe these off-label for <\/span>weight loss<\/span> is rarely successful,\u201d Dr. Brown says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Weight Loss Coupons & Resources<\/a><\/p>\n

Also, even when <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> are covered by <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> for <\/span>Type<\/span> 2 <\/span>diabetes<\/span>, you and your <\/span>healthcare provider<\/span> may need to jump through some hoops to ensure <\/span>coverage<\/span>. \u201c<\/span>Medicaid<\/span> programs usually require a <\/span>prior authorization<\/span> form or a chart review to be completed before they will cover any <\/span>GLP-1<\/span>; <\/span>prescriptions<\/span> without an approved diagnosis are denied,\u201d Dr. Brown shares.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pending legislation<\/span><\/h3>\n

Medications<\/span> like <\/span>Wegovy<\/span> and Zepbound aren\u2019t typically covered by <\/span>Medicaid<\/span>, but <\/span>coverage<\/span> may change in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>early April <\/span>2025, the <\/span>federal government<\/span> and the <\/span>Trump Administration <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> that it won\u2019t be including anti-obesity <\/span>medications<\/span> like <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> in <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> or <\/span>Medicare coverage<\/span> in 2026. But in <\/span>recent years<\/span>, there’s been legislation <\/span>pending in Congress<\/span><\/a> that, if passed, could help ensure that <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> may be covered by both <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> and <\/span>Medicare<\/span> for <\/span>weight loss<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Treat and Reduce <\/span>Obesity<\/span> Act was reintroduced to the Senate this past summer, but so far it has not been passed into law,\u201d Dr. Brown explains. \u201cThere\u2019s significant bipartisan support for the bill, and many of us in the field of <\/span>obesity<\/span> medicine are hopeful that <\/span>Medicare<\/span> and <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> will begin covering <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> for <\/span>weight loss<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Brown hopes that <\/span>Medicaid<\/span> will soon cover <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> specifically for <\/span>weight loss<\/span>, because <\/span>obesity<\/span><\/a> isn\u2019t just a cosmetic issue. It has real <\/span>health<\/span> and financial implications. \u201c<\/span>Obesity<\/span> is the driver of many <\/span>chronic diseases<\/span>, and treating it with <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span> will help reduce long-term obesity-related complications and healthcare <\/span>costs<\/span>,\u201d she describes.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

GLP-1 Coverage for Medicaid patients (Weight loss only)<\/h3>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Drug<\/b><\/td>\nIs it covered under Medicaid?<\/b><\/td>\nSingleCare price<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ozempic<\/span><\/td>\nYes, for many indications, but not weight loss<\/span><\/td>\nOzempic coupon<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trulicity<\/span><\/td>\nYes, for many indications, but not weight loss<\/span><\/td>\nTrulicity coupon<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mounjaro<\/span><\/td>\nYes, for many indications, but not weight loss<\/span><\/td>\nMounjaro coupon<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wegovy<\/span><\/td>\nNo, though there may be exceptions in some states<\/span><\/td>\nWegovy coupon<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Victoza<\/span><\/td>\nYes, for many indications, but not weight loss<\/span><\/td>\nVictoza coupon<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rybelsus<\/span><\/td>\nYes, for many indications, but not weight loss<\/span><\/td>\nRybelsus coupon<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Cost<\/span> comparison and savings options for <\/span>GLP-1s<\/span><\/h2>\n

GLP-1 medications<\/span> can be extremely costly if you need to pay for them out-of-pocket, without insurance. On average, <\/span>GLP-1 drugs<\/span> can <\/span>cost<\/span> $1,000\u2013$1,400+ per month without insurance.<\/span><\/p>\n

SingleCare discounts can significantly lower the price you pay for GLP-1s, although the exact amount will vary depending on the pharmacy. Out-of-pocket expenses also vary based on which <\/span>GLP-1 medication<\/span> you\u2019ve been prescribed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tips for lowering out-of-pocket expenses<\/span><\/h3>\n

It can be challenging when your <\/span>health<\/span> insurance doesn\u2019t pay for your <\/span>medication<\/span>, or only pays partially for it. Thankfully, there are many ways for <\/span>Medicaid enrollees to save on prescription drugs<\/span><\/a> and to lower out-of-pocket expenses.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some options to consider:<\/span><\/p>\n