(A version of this article originally appeared in the August 2026 issue of Military Officer magazine.)

On Aug. 31, 2025, TRICARE ended coverage of GLP-1 medications for TRICARE For Life (TFL) beneficiaries being treated for obesity-related medical conditions. Thousands of military retirees and family members suddenly faced a difficult choice: Pay hundreds of dollars each month out of pocket or discontinue treatment.

For many, the decision felt especially painful because coverage remains available to other TRICARE beneficiaries.

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Lawmakers to Reinstate TFL Coverage of GLP-1 Medications]

More Than a Weight-Loss Drug

GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy and Zepbound are treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for serious conditions including cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and metabolic-associated steatohepatitis.

TFL beneficiaries previously had access to these medications through the TRICARE Pharmacy Program. That changed in 2025, when TRICARE ended coverage for obesity-related conditions for TFL beneficiaries, even as coverage continued for TRICARE Prime and Select enrollees and for all patients with Type 2 diabetes.

MOAA seeks to restore this coverage not just to allow beneficiaries to continue effective, doctor-prescribed treatment plans without unexpected costs, but to ensure the TRICARE Pharmacy Program does not become a two-tracked system, with separate formularies for TRICARE and TFL users.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is testing initiatives to expand access to GLP-1 medications for Medicare beneficiaries, highlighting the growing disparity facing many military retirees. Because these programs require Medicare Part D enrollment, they exclude most TFL beneficiaries.

[RELATED: MOAA.org/SummerAiA]

Real Veterans, Real Impact

More than 800 beneficiaries have contacted MOAA since the policy change, sharing stories of improved cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, reduced sleep apnea symptoms, and significant weight loss while taking GLP-1 medications.

One beneficiary wrote: “I have not felt this good since Airborne School. The dosage for my hypertension medications has been revised downward, and my obstructive sleep apnea has greatly improved. As a veteran with 23 years of service, I ask myself why retirees are being targeted.”

Another member shared: “I’ve been on TFL for one month, and immediately my health is in greater jeopardy because of that. That’s not TRICARE For Life ... that’s TRICARE For Some.”

One spouse of a wounded Vietnam veteran and TFL retiree wrote: “Our veterans upheld their commitment to this country. The least our nation can do is uphold its commitment to them.”

MOAA Continues the Fight

MOAA continues to press Pentagon leaders and members of Congress to restore GLP-1 coverage for TFL beneficiaries.

During Summer Advocacy in Action, members can help by sharing their experiences and urging lawmakers to restore coverage. For many affected beneficiaries, this issue is about more than a prescription; it is about preserving access to treatments that improved their health and honoring commitments made to military retirees.