What will GLP-1 therapy actually cost you?
Short answer: On the Bridge, the math is unusually simple: $50 times the number of months you're on therapy before the program ends December 31, 2027. Starting in August 2026 and staying on through the end costs about $850 total. The calculator below compares that against typical self-pay pricing — and shows what each month of waiting costs.
Program facts last verified against CMS: July 21, 2026
The one variable you control is when you start
The program's end date is fixed; your start date isn't. Each month earlier is one more month at $50 instead of self-pay rates — a difference of several hundred dollars per month against manufacturer direct pricing. Over the program's remaining life, an early start versus a late one can swing total cost by thousands of dollars for the same therapy.
Prior authorization adds lead time too: the provider appointment, the PA submission, and approval all sit between deciding and filling. If the eligibility check suggests you qualify, the highest-value next step is booking the appointment — the clock runs regardless.
Your cost through the program
Bridge program: $600 total (12 × $50).
Typical manufacturer self-pay for the same months: roughly $4,200–$7,800 (check current NovoCare/LillyDirect pricing — it changes).
Estimated savings: $3,600+. See if you qualify →
Take the 2-minute eligibility check →
Common questions
What happens to my cost after December 2027?
Unknown — there's currently no announced successor program. The realistic post-2027 options are standard Part D (if a routing condition applies by then), manufacturer self-pay, or whatever policy replaces the Bridge. Our extension tracker follows this.
Does the $50 change during the program?
CMS set a flat $50 monthly copay for the demonstration. No schedule of increases has been announced.
Are there costs besides the $50?
The provider visits around prior authorization bill like any Medicare visits, and your Part D premium is unchanged. The drug itself is $50/month, full stop.
Related
Program-fact sources: CMS — Medicare GLP-1 Bridge · KFF