Most employer health plans don’t cover new blockbuster weight loss drugs, but that’s going to change

CNBC February 16, 2024
Cheryl Winokur Munk

Key Points

– Consumers are clamoring for weight loss drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound despite a monthly cost as high as $1,000 to $1,500, and using every discount they can source to lower the price.

– While a majority of corporate health insurance plans offer GLP-1 drug coverage for diabetes, only about one-quarter extend that to weight loss, according to a recent survey.

– But employer interest is rising, and employee benefits experts say it’s a matter of when, not if, more company insurance plans will cover the in-demand obesity treatments.

Many U.S. companies are grappling with health insurance coverage issues for workers when it comes to GLP-1 drugs for weight loss.

Despite the hefty price...

Today's Sponsors

Today's Sponsor