France Covers Weight-Loss Drugs for 10M Citizens

France just made groundbreaking medications accessible to millions of people who desperately need them but couldn't afford the price tag.

Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced Thursday that France will begin reimbursing weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro starting June 15. The move makes France the first country in the entire European Union to cover these costs through its national health insurance system.

"I am quite proud, because we are the first country in the European Union to provide reimbursement under standard coverage, on a permanent basis," Rist said on French television. While the official reimbursement rate sits at 65%, virtually all patients will receive 100% coverage because most have related health conditions like hypertension or diabetes.

The timing couldn't be better. Around 18% of France's population, approximately 10 million people, are living with obesity. Many have watched these new medications transform lives but couldn't justify spending €300 every month for treatment.

France Covers Weight-Loss Drugs for 10M Citizens

Wegovy and Mounjaro represent a new generation of weight-loss drugs that work by mimicking a hormone that reduces appetite. More than 70,000 French patients were already using Mounjaro as of late January, paying out of pocket for a therapy that's been available by prescription since 2024.

The Ripple Effect

This decision could spark a domino effect across Europe, where 17% of adults live with obesity and 51% are overweight. When one major country proves these medications can be sustainably covered through public health systems, others often follow.

France already took steps to improve access last June by allowing all doctors, not just specialists like endocrinologists, to prescribe these drugs. Now they've removed the final barrier: cost.

For families who've struggled with obesity and its related health complications, June 15 represents more than a policy change. It's the day healthcare became truly accessible, when treating a chronic condition stopped requiring impossible financial choices.