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Does UnitedHealthcare Cover Ozempic? 2027 Medicare and Weight Loss Rules

By Brian Monahan Updated October 13, 2026

Reviewed October 13, 2026. Yes, UnitedHealthcare generally covers Ozempic when it’s prescribed for type 2 diabetes, but not for weight loss alone. UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Advantage and Part D plans list Ozempic and Mounjaro on their drug lists for diabetes, and some plans require prior authorization, and Medicare law bars Part D plans from covering drugs used only for weight loss. For weight loss, people with Medicare may qualify for the separate Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, which covers Wegovy and Zepbound, not Ozempic, for a $50 monthly copay through December 31, 2027.

Quick answer: Ozempic for type 2 diabetes: usually covered, check your plan’s 2027 drug list for tier and prior authorization. Ozempic for weight loss: not covered by Medicare Part D; employer plans cover weight-loss drugs only if the employer chose to. Mounjaro follows the same rules as Ozempic. Wegovy is Part D-coverable for heart risk reduction and MASH liver disease, and Medicare’s GLP-1 Bridge can cover it for weight loss.

Call the United Healthcare Phone Number and ask if they cover Ozempic

The phone number for United Healthcare is 1-844-444-6222.

Does UnitedHealthcare cover Ozempic for Medicare members?

For type 2 diabetes, yes on many plans. For example, the 2026 formulary for AARP Medicare Advantage Giveback plans in North Carolina lists both Ozempic and Mounjaro. Coverage details, including drug tier, prior authorization and quantity limits, differ by plan and can change each year, so look up Ozempic in your plan’s 2027 drug list or call the member services number on your ID card. Plans that cover Ozempic usually ask your doctor to confirm a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

Weight loss is different. CMS says drugs used for weight loss are excluded from Part D coverage, so a UnitedHealthcare Part D or Medicare Advantage drug plan can’t cover Ozempic just for weight loss. Read our overview of Medicare and weight loss.

What will Ozempic cost with Medicare in 2027?

Three 2027 changes matter:

Negotiated price: Semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy) was selected for Medicare drug price negotiation. CMS says its negotiated price is $274 for a 30-day supply, down from a 2024 list price of $959, effective January 1, 2027.
Out-of-pocket cap: Part D out-of-pocket costs are capped at $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100 in 2026.
Deductible: No Part D plan may have a deductible above $700 in 2027 ($615 in 2026).

What you pay still depends on your plan’s tier and copay or coinsurance. See Medicare changes for 2027 and compare plans during Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026.

Does UnitedHealthcare cover Mounjaro?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) works the same way: covered for type 2 diabetes on many UnitedHealthcare plans, usually with prior authorization, and not for weight loss alone under Medicare Part D. Mounjaro isn’t on the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge list. For details, read does UnitedHealthcare cover Mounjaro and UnitedHealthcare and tirzepatide.

Does UnitedHealthcare cover Wegovy for weight loss?

Under Medicare Part D, Wegovy can be covered for uses that aren’t weight loss alone. The FDA approved Wegovy to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight, and to treat MASH liver disease with moderate to advanced fibrosis. CMS treats those as Part D-coverable uses. Zepbound is approved for obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.

For weight loss, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge runs outside your Part D plan from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027:

You pay $50 for a one-month supply. The Part D deductible doesn’t apply, and the copay doesn’t count toward your out-of-pocket cap or get Extra Help.
Covered drugs are Wegovy (injection or tablet), Zepbound KwikPen and Foundayo tablets. Ozempic and Mounjaro aren’t covered.
You need Part D and one of these: a BMI of 35 or higher; a BMI of 30 or higher with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, uncontrolled high blood pressure or chronic kidney disease stage 3a or higher; or a BMI of 27 or higher with prediabetes, a prior heart attack or stroke, or symptomatic peripheral artery disease.
People with type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea or fatty liver disease, or who already get a GLP-1 through their Part D plan, use their Part D plan instead.
Your prescriber handles prior authorization and confirms you’re in a diet and exercise program. Questions go to 1-800-MEDICARE.

More detail: does UnitedHealthcare cover Wegovy and semaglutide and UnitedHealthcare.

UnitedHealthcare employer and individual plans

Outside Medicare, coverage depends on your employer’s choices. UnitedHealthcare’s commercial weight-loss prior authorization program, effective October 1, 2026, says it applies to clients or businesses that have elected to cover weight-loss products. Ozempic and Mounjaro prescribed for type 2 diabetes generally go through the plan’s diabetes criteria, often with prior authorization. Check your plan documents or call the number on your ID card.

How to get Ozempic covered by UnitedHealthcare

Look up Ozempic in your plan’s drug list to see its tier and any prior authorization or quantity limit.
Ask your doctor to submit prior authorization with your diagnosis and treatment history.
If you’re denied, ask your doctor about an exception request or appeal.
On Medicare, compare 2027 drug coverage in the Medicare.gov plan finder before December 7, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Does UnitedHealthcare cover Ozempic for weight loss?

Not under Medicare Part D. Employer plans cover it for weight loss only if the employer elected weight-loss coverage.

Does UnitedHealthcare cover Ozempic for prediabetes?

Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, so prediabetes alone usually doesn’t qualify. Medicare’s GLP-1 Bridge can cover Wegovy or Zepbound for people with a BMI of 27 or higher and prediabetes.

Will Ozempic be cheaper with Medicare in 2027?

Medicare’s negotiated price for semaglutide takes effect January 1, 2027, and the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400. Your own cost depends on your plan’s tier and cost sharing.

Does Humana cover Ozempic too?

The same Medicare rules apply to every Part D plan. See does Humana cover Ozempic.

This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with UnitedHealthcare, AARP, any drug maker or the U.S. government. Drug coverage varies by plan; check your plan’s formulary.

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