Arkansas Medicaid does not cover Wegovy or Zepbound for weight loss

Arkansas Medicaid does not cover medications used solely for weight loss, so Wegovy, Wegovy tablets, Zepbound, Foundayo and Saxenda are not covered for weight loss. It covers Wegovy (injection and tablets) only to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events, Wegovy injection for MASH, and Zepbound for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, each with prior authorization.1234

Because weight loss alone is not covered, Arkansas Medicaid's GLP-1 prior authorization criteria cover only cardiovascular risk reduction and MASH (Wegovy) and obstructive sleep apnea (Zepbound). Requests made for weight loss only are denied.128910

• Wegovy injection or tablets, cardiovascular path: established cardiovascular disease (previous heart attack, stent or bypass surgery, previous stroke, or symptomatic peripheral arterial disease), a baseline BMI of 27 or more, risk of a major cardiovascular event, a treatment plan with a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity, and no current smoking without a cessation plan.
• Wegovy injection, MASH path: noncirrhotic MASH with F2 to F3 fibrosis shown by liver biopsy or by one blood-based and one imaging test, prescribed by or with an endocrinologist, gastroenterologist or hepatologist, a baseline BMI of 27 or more, other causes of fibrosis ruled out; people with type 2 diabetes must use a GLP-1 indicated for diabetes. First approval lasts 6 months.
• Zepbound (10 mg and 15 mg), sleep apnea path: moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (AHI of 15 or more on a sleep study), a baseline BMI of 30 or more with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia or high blood pressure, at least 6 months in a comprehensive weight management program, and at least 6 months of CPAP or BiPAP use. Approvals last 6 months.
• All three paths: no request for weight loss only, no personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2, and renewals need at least 75% adherence and a documented response.

Coverage for other uses the FDA has approved:

• Wegovy (injection), reduction of the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 or more: Covered with prior authorization8
• Wegovy tablets, reduction of the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, under the same criteria as the injection: Covered with prior authorization38
• Wegovy (injection), noncirrhotic MASH with F2 to F3 liver fibrosis (injection only): Covered with prior authorization9
• Zepbound, moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity (10 mg and 15 mg doses): Covered with prior authorization210

What changed, and when:

CMS BALANCE model: CMS's BALANCE model page names no participating states, and we found no Arkansas Medicaid announcement that Arkansas has joined.15

ARBenefits, the self-funded plan for Arkansas state and public school employees, states in its 2026 plan document that weight loss medications are not a covered benefit. Bariatric surgery for morbid obesity can be covered with prior approval.1617

Pharmacy benefit: Navitus Health Solutions (pharmacy benefit manager); Health Advantage (medical claims).

Marketplace (ACA) plans: Arkansas's essential health benefits benchmark plan, a Health Advantage (HMO Partners) small-group gold plan, excludes medications used to treat obesity or for weight loss.19

On the preferred drug list effective October 1, 2026 (GLP-1 class last updated June 1, 2025), Trulicity and brand Victoza are preferred, and Ozempic, Mounjaro, Rybelsus and generic liraglutide are non-preferred. Preferred drugs pass at the pharmacy with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis plus a recent metformin claim, an A1C of 9 or more, or a diagnosis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; non-preferred drugs need prior authorization.567

In 2025, Arkansas Medicaid paid for 17,000 GLP-1 prescriptions, $15.4 million before rebates: 5 per 1,000 residents, against 32 across the states and DC, 47th of 51.67 It reimbursed 7 GLP-1 products that year. Every state, ranked.

CMS hides counts under 11 in a quarter, so 88 rows count as zero here and the totals are a floor.

Part D still excludes drugs used for weight loss alone: the Part D drug definition excludes drugs and uses Medicaid may exclude under SSA §1927(d)(2), which lists agents used for weight loss. Part D plans can cover GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes, MACE risk reduction (Wegovy), moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (Zepbound) and noncirrhotic MASH with fibrosis (Wegovy). For weight loss alone, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge demonstration (July 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2027) gives eligible Part D enrollees Foundayo, Wegovy or Zepbound KwikPen for a $50 monthly copay, outside the Part D benefit. The BALANCE Model's Part D component is not launching in 2027.4243333429372232

• Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (demonstration) (active, from 2026-07-01): Runs July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027 (extended). Outside the Part D benefit: $50 copay per one-month supply (28 or 30 days), Part D deductible does not apply, the copay does not count toward TrOOP, no low-income subsidy. Covers Foundayo, Wegovy (injection or tablet) and Zepbound KwikPen only (not Zepbound single-dose vials or pens). Eligibility: age 18+ and, when starting GLP-1 therapy, BMI ≥35; or BMI ≥30 with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, uncontrolled hypertension, or CKD stage 3a+; or BMI ≥27 with prediabetes, prior heart attack or stroke, or symptomatic peripheral artery disease. People with type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea or fatty liver disease are not eligible (their Part D plan may cover GLP-1s for those conditions). Prior authorization required; valid through Dec 31, 2027 unless the patient changes GLP-1s.2930312237383940413635
• BALANCE Model — Medicare Part D component (not launching in 2027; future implementation described by CMS only as 'potential'): Originally announced to launch in Part D in January 2027. CMS's BALANCE page FAQ now refers to 'the BALANCE Model not launching in Medicare in 2027' and extends the Bridge through Dec 31, 2027 to collect data 'ahead of potential implementation of BALANCE in Part D'. No new start date is published.242622

In 2024, Medicare Part D drug plans paid for 253,572 GLP-1 claims from prescribers in Arkansas, $290.6 million in total drug cost.68

The lowest price among the programs that ship to every state is WellMedr: $492 for 12 months ($41 a month); $99 month to month, fees in.72 Includes a sale seen on November 5, 2026; the price returns to the standing price when it ends. The cheapest programs, ranked, or every program, ranked on our score.

Prices are what each program charged at its own checkout, fees in, with the total due for the plan length first. Compounded GLP-1s are prepared by a pharmacy to a prescription, and they are not FDA-approved; the section on compounding explains what that means.

We may earn a commission when you sign up through some links. It never changes our order or scores. How we make money

29 more programs we rank ship to fewer than 50 states, or don’t say how many. We don’t record which states they leave out, so check Arkansas on their sites: Embody, Collective, SnagRx, Enhanced, Direct Meds, Gala Health, GobyMeds, CoreAge Rx, Maximus Tribe, Brightmeds, SkinnyRx, Willow, Strut Health, Enhance MD, LumiMeds, VivioMD, MEDGm, MyDrHank, Zevay, LevelsRx, Hume Care, ReadyRx, Hers, Luvo Health, Remedy Meds, Hims, DudeMeds, G-Plans and Found.

The makers also sell some brand-name GLP-1s for cash, at the same price in every state, with a prescription:

These are standing prices. The Zepbound and Wegovy rankings list each dose and the terms of each offer.

Compounded GLP-1s are prepared by a pharmacy to a prescription. They are not FDA-approved: the FDA doesn’t review their safety, effectiveness or quality before they’re sold, and they are not the same as Wegovy or Zepbound. Formulas can differ from one pharmacy to the next, and some add ingredients such as vitamin B12.7374 Compounding pharmacies are licensed and inspected by state boards of pharmacy; outsourcing facilities (503B) also register with the FDA and are inspected by it. The FDA can issue warning letters when either breaks rules on safety or sterility.

The FDA’s register lists 3 outsourcing facilities (503B) in Arkansas, as of November 6, 2026; 0 show no inspection date and 3 were issued a Form 483.69