Prescription drugs aren’t getting any cheaper, and employers are becoming less confident in their ability to absorb costs on behalf of workers. But does that mean they should start cutting life-saving medications from their benefits roster?
The rising popularity of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy as a weight-loss solution has tempted many employers to exclude the medications from their plans — as it stands, only 25% of employers cover GLP-1s, according to healthcare navigation company Accolade. While GLP-1s generally refer to a class of drugs that help manage glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes, the drugs became known as an expensive celebrity weight loss drug after big names like Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk sang Ozempic’s praises. However, it’s not a medication that just any employee can take on a whim to lose weight.
