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Donald Trump has just made a decision that could affect certain travelers to the United States, as the president revealed a new 'high calorie human' visa policy at the same time as a new sweeping weight loss drug initiative.
GLP-1 inhibitors or weight loss drugs have become increasingly popular over the last few years due to their success in helping people shed the pounds, as celebrities and social media have repeatedly shown quite how effective these treatments can be.
You might know them under their commercial names like Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Wegovy, and they have been encouraged to tackle America's 'health crisis' by people like Elon Musk in the past.
US President Donald Trump has now revealed new plans to slash the price of some of the most popular weight loss drugs for the consumer, in tandem with shocking rules that block visas for obese or diabetic foreigners.
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As reported by the Independent, the reduction in cost for GLP-1 inhibitors has arrived following an agreement between manufacturers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, who produce the three aforementioned injectors.
Americans who currently receive support via Medicare and Medicaid will be able to purchase the drugs on a new website named TrumpRX, with Wegovy dropping from $1,350 per month to $250, and Zepbound from $1,080 to $346.
Trump called the new price drops a "triumph for American patients," asserting that it will "save lives and improve the health of millions and millions of Americans."
Unfortunately, Trump isn't applying the same grace to everyone else across the world, as he has also signed in a new shocking directive that blocks visa applications for foreigners who have a number of health conditions, including obesity and diabetes.
This does only apply to people who are seeking permanent residency in the United States, but it's an unexpected move that could have dangerous consequences in the future.
The order itself asserts to embassies across the United States: "You must consider an applicant's health. Certain medical conditions – including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions – can require hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of care."
Senior attorney Charles Wheeler of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network has expressed his concerns surrounding this new order in a statement to KFF Health News, illustrating that it's "troubling because they're not medically trained, they have no experience in this area, and they shouldn't be making projections based on their own personal knowledge or bias."
While Americans will be given cheaper access to weight loss drugs that could – according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy – shed 125 million pounds (56.7 million kilograms) nationwide, that very same 'issue' could prevent you from making your way over to the United States.
