LULAC Applauds Breakthrough Deal Expanding Access to GLP-1 Weight-Loss Medications for Medicare Patients
Washington, D.C. — The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization, today applauds the announcement that Eli Lilly & Co. and Novo Nordisk A/S have reached agreements with the Trump Administration to cut prices for their blockbuster GLP-1 weight-loss medications in exchange for tariff relief and expanded Medicare access.
For years, LULAC has been unrelenting in its fight to secure fair and affordable access to GLP-1 medications for Latino communities. We filed federal comment letters, met with agency officials, participated in congressional briefings, and convened stakeholder meetings to elevate the urgency of this issue. LULAC’s councils and members across the country pressed their congressional representatives to support the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) — legislation that would have finally allowed Medicare to cover anti-obesity medications and counseling. It was one of LULAC’s highest federal health priorities. We fought because too many Latinas and Latinos were left staring at a prescription they simply could not afford.
Under the agreement:
- Medicare and Medicaid patients living with obesity and a related chronic condition (like prediabetes or heart failure) will be able to access medications like Zepbound and Wegovy for $245/month, with Medicare copays as low as $50/month.
- Future GLP-1 pills — after fast-track review — will start at $149/month.
- Drugmakers will receive a three-year grace period from new pharmaceutical tariffs.
That is a dramatic shift from current list prices that exceed $1,000/month — a cost that trapped families on the wrong side of a pharmacy counter.
“I grew up watching relatives measure their lives in insulin doses and doctor visits. Today’s announcement feels like an unlocked door — not just for patients, but for dignity,” said Roman Palomares, LULAC National President.
Latino Families Have Been Living Inside the Statistics
This is not theoretical — it’s lived in the body. Nearly 45% of Latino adults in the United States live with obesity (CDC, 2023) and 26% of Latino children do as well (CDC National Survey of Children’s Health, 2022), the highest childhood obesity rate in the country. Obesity is not a lack of discipline; it is a biological disease worsened by structural barriers — lack of insurance coverage, food deserts, and delayed access to preventive care.
“Latino families have been living at the intersection of diagnosis and denial — told to manage their weight without access to the very tools that make that possible. Today, the door finally opens,” said Dr. Ray Serrano, LULAC National Director of Research & Policy.
The price reductions announced today prove something simple and powerful: when communities demand fairness, systems bend. This deal brings affordability. “When medicine costs over $1,000, it’s not a treatment — it’s a gatekeeping mechanism. Today, that gate opens. And as my abuela used to say, ‘El que persevera, alcanza.’ We pushed, we organized, we refused to accept a system where health belonged only to those who could afford it. This is what perseverance looks like.” Palomares added.
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About League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide, LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of Latinos, contributing daily to America's prosperity. For more information about LULAC and its initiatives, please visit https://lulac.org/.