This is a common misconception. Obesity is a chronic, complex medical condition, not a lifestyle choice. GLP-1 medications are clinically proven treatments prescribed by doctors to manage it, just like insulin is prescribed to manage diabetes. Medi-Cal exists to ensure low-income Californians get the care they need, and that includes evidence-based treatment for obesity.

The people most at risk are low-income Californians on Medi-Cal, many of whom have no other option for affording these medications. Without coverage, a monthly supply can cost hundreds to over a thousand dollars out of pocket. These are working people, parents, and seniors who are already navigating serious health challenges. Coverage cuts didn’t affect everyone equally, they hit hardest the people who could least afford it.

It’s a fair question, but it’s worth looking at the full picture. Obesity drives significant downstream costs stemming from hospitalizations, heart disease, diabetes complications, and more. Covering effective treatment now can reduce far more expensive care later. Cutting GLP-1 coverage may have looked like savings on paper, but it risked shifting those costs elsewhere in the healthcare system, and onto patients who have no other options.

California’s fiscal situation is also dramatically different than last year given recent and significant price reductions; if GLP-1 access is restored, Medi-Cal patients will be covered for $245 per month before federal matching dollars that will provide the state up to 90% reimbursement.

Contact your legislator and Governor Newsom

Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program — a public health insurance program that provides free or low-cost coverage to Californians who qualify based on income, age, disability, or family status. It covers roughly 1 in 3 Californians, including working families, seniors, people with disabilities, and children. If you or someone you know relies on Medi-Cal for healthcare, the cuts to GLP-1 coverage directly affected access to treatment.

FDA-approved GLP-1 medications go through rigorous clinical testing to ensure they are safe, effective, and properly dosed. Compounded versions — often sold online or through unregulated providers — are not FDA-approved and have not been held to the same safety standards. They may contain incorrect dosages, unverified ingredients, or no active medication at all. When Medi-Cal coverage disappeared, patients didn’t just go without — many were pushed toward these cheaper, riskier alternatives out of desperation. That’s not a solution. That’s a safety crisis.