Tennessee WIN – TennCare Expands Coverage for Obesity Medications

Obesity Action Coalition applauds TennCare’s (Tennessee Medicaid) decision to cover obesity medications effective August 1, 2025 for beneficiaries 21 years or older. TennCare patients under age 21 have benefited from these medications for years and the State’s move to expand coverage for adults comes at a time when many states are pulling back on coverage.

The news comes after years of advocacy work by OAC and other stakeholders. In early 2024 OAC staff and advocates met with TennCare and mobilized residents of Tennessee to send letters to decision makers via the OAC Action Center. 

“When it comes to access to comprehensive obesity care, Tennessee is showing what’s possible when leaders truly listen. I applaud their thoughtfulness in reviewing the data and their willingness to engage directly with individuals and organizations representing lived experience, including myself during my time as the OAC Board Chair and in my current work as a Lived-Experience Trustee with the World Obesity Federation. This isn’t just smart policy for building a healthier workforce and making Tennessee an even better place to live, work and thrive—it’s simply the right thing to do.” -Amber Huett-Garcia, Past OAC Board Chair who resides in Memphis.

More than 130 million people in the U.S. live with obesity, and this number is expected to rise. Tennessee ranks 9th in states affected by obesity, with more than 37% of adults living with the disease. By treating obesity, patients are less likely to develop subsequent conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and cancer, all of which are costly to treat.

OAC fights to ensure obesity medications are covered by insurance in the same way as other chronic diseases, because costs and coverage should never keep safe, effective treatments out of reach for those who need them most. At both the state and federal level, we continue working to improve access to comprehensive obesity care—fighting for everyone living with overweight and obesity and never stopping in our mission to improve the health of all Americans.

Help us fuel our drive for meaningful change by donating to the OAC Action Fund.