Try the political quiz
@ISIDEWITHQuestionsHealthcareMedicareHealthcare PolicyObesityPharmaceuticalsGLP-1 agonists•••Started 4mos agoActive 11hrs ago

Should the federal government require Medicare to cover the cost of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic?

Under a 2003 law, the federal government is currently banned from paying for weight-loss medications, classifying them as "lifestyle" drugs similar to hair growth treatments. The explosion of new GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy has challenged this, as these drugs significantly reduce weight and health risks but cost upwards of $1,000 a month. Supporters of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act argue coverage is a moral imperative that will eventually lower costs by reducing rates of stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Opponents argue the astronomical upfront cost of providing these drugs to the 40% of seniors who are obese would necessitate massive tax hikes or premium increases.

+
Expand
+ Settings

Toggle voterbase

Statistics are shown for this demographic

Answer Overview

Response rates from 7.8k America voters.

46%
Yes
54%
No
32%
Yes
44%
No
7%
Yes, access to life-changing medicine shouldn't depend on wealth and Medicare must modernize to cover effective treatments
5%
No, taxpayer money should fund affordable food and exercise programs instead of enriching Big Pharma
7%
Yes, obesity is a chronic disease and treating it now saves billions in long-term healthcare costs
3%
No, the government has no business subsidizing personal lifestyle choices or manipulating the drug market
1%
No, covering these expensive drugs for millions of people would bankrupt the entire Medicare system

Historical Support

Trend of support over time for each answer from 7.8k America voters.

Loading data...

Loading chart... 

Historical Importance

Trend of how important this issue is for 7.8k America voters.

Loading data...

Loading chart... 

Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from America voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @BBCMLDL  from California  answered…4mos4MO

No, it should only be covered in life-threatening situations or situations where there is no alternative for the person, and they have clear proof of such.

 @SThunstrom11  from Idaho  answered…5 days5D

Yes, but only for those who have Type II diabetes or other specific medical conditions directly related to obesity and needing treatment.

 @BF47ZS4 from Oregon  answered…6 days6D

No, it should fund healthy food programs and exercise programs to a point instead.

 @BF476BF from Florida  answered…7 days7D

Ozempic is extremely unhealthy, just use a tread mill.

 @BF3CWY9 from Mississippi  answered…1wk1W

No, but you might need to check when they are losing weight with Ozempic we don't want them Malnourish.

 @BluSani  from Oklahoma  answered…1wk1W

Yes, but only in cases where it is medically necessary.

 @BF2G94C from Missouri  answered…2wks2W

If the person actually has diabetes and needs ozempic, Medicare should cover it, but if said person wants ozempic for aesthetic/trendy reasons, Medicare should not cover it. Having to do medical tests would solve if they need it

 @BF2FY85 from Colorado  answered…2wks2W

yes if they aren’t capable of doing it themselves like diabetics

Popular Conversations

Join in on the most popular conversations.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...…2yrs2Y

Should the government incentivize the construction of affordable housing?

Yes

▲  2.7k3 replies2 agree

About This Data

Based on 7.8k responses to this question.

These results come from iSideWith's ongoing political issues survey. We collect over a million responses per day, filter out duplicate and multiple submissions, and break the results down by political party, ideology, age, state, and census demographics (income, race, education, household).

iSideWith is non-partisan — we don't advocate for any party, candidate, or position. We report what the public tells us.

Read Our Full Methodology →

Cite Or Embed This Poll

Writing about this issue? Use the live data and link back to the full results.

Cite This Poll

iSideWith. (2026). “Should the federal government require Medicare to cover the cost of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic?” — Public Opinion Poll Results. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://www.isidewith.com/polls/5545302868

Embed The Live Result

Preview