Key Takeaways Eli Lilly's Zepbound can be covered by Medicare Part D plans after the FDA approved the drug as a treatment for sleep apnea last month.Weight loss drugs like Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Ozempic aren't covered under Medicare,

Zepbound is not covered by Medicare or many other insurance plans as a treatment for weight loss. The injectable treatment costs about $1,000 a month without insurance.

According to BMO Capital Markets, Medicare coverage of Lilly’s Zepbound opens the door to using secondary indications to secure CMS coverage for obesity drugs.

Medicare now covers Eli Lilly's Zepbound for obstructive sleep apnea, FDA-approved for obesity and sleep apnea treatment, reducing apnea events by 62.8%.

El Lilly’s (LLY) blockbuster weight-loss drug Zepbound is now eligible for Medicare coverage. The news could significantly expand access to the popular, yet costly treatment.

The FDA has approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) for the treatment of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.

Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are studying their weight loss drugs to treat fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease, sleep apnea and more. To be covered, these drugs would need to have late-stage trial results and then seek FDA approval for these uses.