Less than a fifth of large companies in the United States include coverage for the popular but pricey weight loss drugs Wegovy and Zepbound in their health insurance plans, according to a survey published Wednesday in Health Affairs. Among the large firms that do cover them, a third say the coverage has a “significant impact” on their plans' prescription drug spending.
Christopher McGowan, a gastroenterologist who runs a weight loss clinic in North Carolina, said that there is a tendency to blame employers and insurance companies for the lack of coverage, but that blame is being “misdirected.” Wegovy, from Novo Nordisk, and Zepbound, from Eli Lilly, can cost more than $1,000 for a month’s supply. Research has shown that coverage for the drugs can have significant cost implications for employers, as well as state and federal governments.