TRICARE for Life Weight-Loss Drug Coverage Ended Aug. 31, 2025

No. TRICARE for Life (TFL) does not cover Zepbound or Wegovy prescribed for weight loss, and has not covered them since Aug. 31, 2025. The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) FAQ on TFL and weight-loss drugs and the Stars and Stripes report of an Aug. 5, 2025 TRICARE statement describe the same change. From that date, TFL beneficiaries pay 100% of the cost of a drug prescribed for weight loss.

The cutoff applies even if you held an approved prior authorization. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs prescribed for type 2 diabetes, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, keep TFL coverage when they are medically necessary and prior authorization is approved.

At Rank and Pay, we read both sources on Nov. 4, 2026 and found no source reporting a reversal. We could not open the original announcement on TRICARE.mil because the site blocked our automated read. MOAA and Stars and Stripes both cite that announcement, so the details below come from their reporting.

Weight-Loss Drugs Without TFL Coverage

MOAA names these weight-loss drugs as examples of what TFL stopped paying for on Aug. 31, 2025:

Both sources describe the rule by the reason for the prescription. A prescription written for weight loss is excluded, and Stars and Stripes extends the exclusion to other GLP-1 medications when they are prescribed for weight loss. A GLP-1 prescribed for type 2 diabetes falls on the covered side.

Weight-Loss Prior Authorizations Are Void

An approved prior authorization for a weight-loss drug stopped counting on Aug. 31, 2025. Stars and Stripes quoted the TRICARE statement: "Otherwise, if you have an approved prior authorization for weight loss drugs, it's no longer valid. You'll need to see your provider to discuss your options." The same report said affected beneficiaries were to receive a notice in the mail.

Type 2 Diabetes GLP-1 Drugs TFL Covers

TFL covers GLP-1 drugs prescribed for type 2 diabetes when the treatment is medically necessary and prior authorization is obtained. The two sources name four of these drugs:

Some of these drugs carry a copayment, and Stars and Stripes names Ozempic as one of them. Neither source publishes the copay amount or a formulary tier. Ask Express Scripts what you would owe on your specific prescription.

Coverage for these drugs depends on two conditions in the reporting: medical necessity and an approved prior authorization. If your diabetes prescription has no prior authorization on file, ask your prescriber to submit one before you fill it.

TRICARE Plans the Change Did Not Affect

The Aug. 31, 2025 change did not affect these TRICARE plans, according to MOAA:

Weight-loss drug coverage on Prime and Select comes with its own conditions. Stars and Stripes reported that for active-duty members, retirees and families on plans such as Prime or Select, coverage depends on a person's condition and certain criteria. The requirements it named were enrollment in a TRICARE premium plan, prior authorization, and a prescription from a network provider.

The same report said it was unclear exactly what benchmarks a person would need to meet. Neither source lists a body mass index (BMI) threshold or any other clinical cutoff, so this page gives none. For how Prime and Select compare, see our TRICARE Prime vs. Select guide.

The change also covered people outside TFL. Stars and Stripes reported that it applies to Defense Department civilians and others not covered by TRICARE who can receive care at military hospitals. MOAA adds that direct-care recipients and some smaller coverage pools lost their weight-loss drug coverage too.

Options When TFL Won't Pay for Zepbound or Wegovy

If you are a TFL beneficiary with a weight-loss prescription, take these steps in order:

  1. Talk to your prescriber. MOAA says your provider may be able to offer alternative treatment options, and the TRICARE statement told beneficiaries to see their provider to discuss their options.
  2. Ask Express Scripts about the specific drug. MOAA directs questions about specific medicines or prescriptions to Express Scripts, so bring the drug name and dose when you contact them.
  3. Price the drug before your next refill. Without coverage you pay 100% of the cost. MOAA says that cost varies widely by dosage, drug type, where you buy it, and whether a savings plan or other insurance applies.

MOAA does not recommend a retailer. Its FAQ points to the drugmakers' own pricing information for Wegovy, Saxenda and Zepbound. This page carries no dollar figure because neither source publishes one.

When This Answer Does Not Apply

This answer covers TFL beneficiaries only. If you are enrolled in TRICARE Prime, Select, Young Adult, Reserve Select, Retired Reserve or CHCBP, the Aug. 31, 2025 change did not apply to you. Your drug coverage still has its own criteria, which Stars and Stripes described for plans such as Prime or Select, so ask Express Scripts how they apply to your prescription.

The answer also stops at weight loss and type 2 diabetes. Neither source says how TFL treats a Wegovy prescription for a cardiovascular use, or any of these drugs prescribed for sleep apnea. Take those questions to your prescriber and to Express Scripts.

The verdict would change if TRICARE reversed the policy. MOAA said it was researching the regulatory history as a first step toward a response. Look at tricare.mil for the current formulary before you pay for a refill.

Planning a Zepbound or Wegovy Refill on TFL

If a TFL prescription is for weight loss, plan on paying the full cost from Aug. 31, 2025 on, and ask your prescriber about alternatives. If the prescription is for type 2 diabetes, coverage continues when the drug is medically necessary and prior authorization is approved. This read rests on the MOAA FAQ and the Stars and Stripes report of TRICARE's Aug. 5, 2025 statement.

Before your next refill, contact Express Scripts with the drug name and the reason it was prescribed, and ask whether TRICARE for Life covers Zepbound, Wegovy or your diabetes GLP-1 on that prescription.

This page is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Talk to your prescriber about treatment, and verify your coverage with Express Scripts or tricare.mil.