The Biden administration is expanding coverage of anti-obesity drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy for people with Medicare and Medicaid through a new proposal from the Department of Health and Human Services, a White House official says. 

Medicare currently only covers these drugs for people who are diagnosed with diabetes or cardiovascular disease with obesity, or for people who are overweight, according to the official, who added that while some state Medicaid programs cover the GLP-1 medications for obesity, many do not. 

The new HHS proposal, they said, would require both Medicare and Medicaid to cover the drugs for people with obesity as a treatment for the condition.

“Today’s new proposal would expand access to these innovative medications for obesity, which is widely recognized as a disease and help an estimated 3.4 million Americans with Medicare. Medicare coverage would reduce out-of-pocket costs for these prescription drugs by as much as 95 percent for some enrollees,” the White House said in a statement Tuesday. 

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“Approximately 4 million adult Medicaid enrollees would also gain new access to these medications. This proposal would allow Americans and their doctors to determine the best path forward so they can lead healthier lives, without worrying about their ability to cover these drugs out-of-pocket, and ultimately reduce health care costs to our nation,” the statement added. 

The White House says that “for too many Americans, these critical treatments are too expensive and therefore out of reach,” and, “without insurance coverage, these drugs can cost someone as much as $1,000 a month.”

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide) receptor agonists are commonly prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes (to stabilize blood glucose levels) or obesity (to assist with weight loss). 

DIABETES PATIENTS NOW HAVE ACCESS TO FIRST GENERIC GLP-1 MEDICATION 

The anti-obesity medication Ozempic, made by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.  (Getty Images)

“These medications slow down digestion, which means food stays in the stomach longer,” said Dr. Alfred Bonati, the founder of the Bonati Spine Institute in Florida, previously told Fox News Digital. 

The White House says an estimated 42 million Americans today have obesity, “with increased risk of all-cause mortality and multiple related comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, some cancers, and more.” 

Three injectable prescription weight loss medicines — Ozempic, Victoza and Wegovy.  (Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

“Over the past few years, there have been major scientific advancements in the treatment of obesity, with the introduction of new life-saving drugs. These anti-obesity medications can help prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, these drugs reduce deaths and sickness from heart attack and other cardiovascular outcomes by up to 20%,” the White House added. 

Fox News’ Melissa Rudy contributed to this report. 

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Martha Stewart’s new Netflix documentary “Martha” is giving fans an inside peek into the American businesswoman’s personal life.

Despite her past legal challenges, the 83-year-old author and entrepreneur appears to be healthy and fit as ever.

In an interview with Women’s Health last year, Stewart shared her fitness routine, which keeps her disciplined and on schedule.

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Pilates, yoga and more

Stewart is reportedly committed to attending Pilates three mornings per week.

She leaves the house at 6:15 a.m. for her Pilates class, where she and the instructor are the “only people in the [studio] at that time,” according to Women’s Health.

“Nobody else gets up that early,” she told the publication.

Stewart has also mentioned being a fan of yoga to keep her “muscles long, limber and flexible,” according to a past blog post.

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On her property in Bedford, New York, Stewart stays generally active, telling Women’s Health that “just getting around from place to place on the farm and making sure the gardening is being done and the animals are taken care of [is a lot of exercise].”

She also enjoys caring for her horses and horseback riding for exercise, according to various blog posts.

Stewart also has a home gym – where she has previously worked with a personal trainer – equipped with weight machines, free weights and a treadmill.

‘Keeping things practical’

Celebrity personal trainer Kollins Ezekh, who is based in Los Angeles, applauded Stewart for “keeping things practical and enjoyable” in her approach to fitness.

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“At 83, she’s a great example of how to stay active without pushing yourself to extremes,” he told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

“She mixes Pilates, yoga and weight training, which helps keep her muscle mass and flexibility in check.”

Stewart toasted her iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover in May 2023. (Noam Galai)

Ezekh added that Stewart is also a “big fan of walking,” an exercise that is simple yet “so effective for cardiovascular health and mental clarity.”

“What I love about Martha’s approach is that it’s sustainable,” he went on. 

“She’s not going for intense, over-the-top workouts. She focuses on functional fitness — stuff that helps her stay strong, mobile and independent in her day-to-day life.”

Martha Stewart is pictured during an interview on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in Dec. 2023. (Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)

For other women in their 80s, Ezekh noted that fitness is all about “staying strong and mobile without overdoing it.”

He recommends trying workouts like chair yoga, which is “super easy on the joints but great for flexibility and balance.”

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“You can do it sitting down, and it helps keep everything loose and limber,” he added.

To build leg strength, the trainer also suggested sit-to-stands, which only require standing up from a chair and sitting back down without using the hands.

Martha Stewart at Netflix’s “Martha” New York Premiere at The Paris Theater on Oct. 21, 2024, in New York City. (Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty Images)

Heel-to-toe walks are another simple balance exercise for octogenarians, according to Ezekh.

“Just walk in a straight line, placing your heel right in front of your toe with each step,” he instructed. “It’s great for preventing falls.”

“These moves are all about keeping you strong, stable and able to move easily through your day.”