NY governor unveils plan to expand health care coverage for weight loss drugs
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NEW YORK (PIX11) – New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced a new proposal to expand access to health care coverage for popular weight loss drugs.
Other proposals she announced include granting coverage for air conditioning units for pregnant women and people with chronic conditions and ensuring access to ambulances.
“As we continue our post-pandemic recovery, it’s critical to make investments and innovations in our health care system,” Hochul said. “This year, our health proposals will put more money back in the pockets of New Yorkers and ensure they have access to affordable, high-quality care.”
The proposals were announced during her 2025 State of the State address.
Health care for obesity medications
The expanded access to weight loss aims to address barriers for many patients who struggle with obesity and may not have access to GLP-1 injections such as Wegovy and Ozempic. Currently, one in three adults is obese in New York State, according to the Department of Health.
New York State plans to work with other states to pressure drug companies to bring down the cost of these drugs, officials said.
Access to dental care
Many New Yorkers struggle to access dental care.
Dental plans do not have minimum coverage standards, making it difficult for 260,000 New Yorkers to navigate varying benefits and costs. Hochul plans to set minimum standards for dental plans in the Marketplace and explore using a federal waiver to help cover the cost of dental care.
New York will introduce a Standard Adult Dental Plan in 2026, requiring stand-alone dental plans to meet minimum standards to simplify and improve dental care for consumers.
For more information on Hochul’s latest health care proposals, click here.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.