How Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound Are Reshaping Pharmacy Benefit Plans
Key Insights: GLP-1 coverage trends and employer considerations
- GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic are in high demand, driving up costs for employer-sponsored health plans.
- 44% of large U.S. employers now cover these medications—a number that continues to grow.
- Employees view GLP-1s as life-changing, but affordability remains a major barrier.
- Intercept Rx’s Rx Optimization Program helps employers reduce spend without sacrificing care.
- MediFit offers an affordable alternative for employees seeking access to GLP-1s, even outside insurance coverage.
- Employers can balance financial sustainability with employee health through smart, transparent pharmacy benefit strategies.
The weight loss drug boom and what it means for employers
GLP-1 drug demand: What employers need to know
Weight loss medications are changing the health care landscape. Drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound are in high demand. People are using them not only to manage diabetes, but also to lose weight—and they’re working.
For many employees, these medications are life changing. They help with long-term weight loss, reduce the risk of health problems, and improve daily life. But for employers, they can be a financial challenge. These drugs are expensive, and more people want access to them.
According to a recent report, 44% of large U.S. employers (with 500 or more employees) now cover GLP-1 weight loss drugs. That’s up from 41% in 2023.¹ Another study found that more than 40% of privately insured adults under 65 are eligible for these medications.²
This fast-growing demand is creating a serious question for employers:
Are GLP-1 drugs a smart investment in employee health, or are they driving pharmacy costs out of control?
Why employers are facing a tough decision
Why covering GLP-1s is a costly challenge for employers
GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Ozempic are among the most expensive prescription drugs available today. As demand grows, so does the cost to employer-sponsored health plans.
Covering these medications isn’t a simple yes or no. Some employers have already started limiting coverage or applying stricter rules like requiring prior approval because of how fast the costs are adding up. Others are removing coverage altogether, worried that offering these drugs will lead to budget strain across their entire benefits package.
But here’s the real challenge: Employers must balance short-term costs with long-term benefits. On one hand, GLP-1s can help employees lose weight, improve their health, and avoid chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
This could lead to fewer sick days, better engagement, and improved retention especially when paired with a strong workplace culture focused on well-being. A supportive company culture can significantly boost productivity and retention, making health investments like these more valuable in the long run. On the other hand, the immediate price tag is hard to ignore.
So, the big question is:
Should employers see these medications as a smart investment in employee health or are they an ongoing financial risk that’s hard to sustain?
The employee perspective: A life-changing medication
How GLP-1 medications improve employee health and productivity
For employees, GLP-1 medications can be more than just prescriptions, they can be life-changing. Drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound have helped thousands of people lose weight, improve their health, and feel more confident in their daily lives.
The health benefits go beyond the scale. Weight loss can lower the risk of serious conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and sleep apnea. For employees already managing chronic health issues, these medications can offer a path to better outcomes and fewer complications down the road.
Healthier employees are often more productive. When people feel better, they tend to miss fewer days at work, stay more focused, and engage more with their teams. Over time, that can make a real difference in workplace performance and morale.
But not all employees have access to these medications. Without insurance coverage, GLP-1s can cost over $1,000 per month making them out of reach for many people. Even with partial coverage, copays and deductibles can still add up quickly. This creates a major affordability gap: people who want help improving their health but can’t afford the tools to get there.
For employees, the issue is simple:
They want solutions that work, and they need a way to afford them.
Pharmacy Benefit Solutions: A smarter approach to managing GLP-1 costs
How Pharmacy Benefit Solutions can control GLP-1 costs
Employers don’t have to choose between employee health and affordability. With the right pharmacy benefit solutions in place, it’s possible to offer access to GLP-1 medications while also keeping costs under control.
That’s where Intercept Rx’s Rx Optimization Program comes in. This program is designed to help employers save money on prescription drugs without cutting corners on care. By using technology and data, Intercept Rx identifies smarter ways to manage high-cost medications, like GLP-1s, and ensures employees get the treatments they need at a price employers can afford.
An important part of the strategy is using clinical tools like step therapy and prior authorization. These help ensure that medications are being prescribed appropriately and only when medically necessary. That means the right employees receive the right treatment at the right time avoiding waste and overuse.
With pharmacy benefit solutions like these, employers can regain control of their pharmacy spend while continuing to support employee health and satisfaction.
A cost-effective alternative: MediFit’s role in making GLP-1s accessible
MediFit: An affordable GLP-1 access program for employers and employees
While some employer plans can’t afford to cover GLP-1 medications for every employee, that doesn’t mean access should be out of reach. That’s where MediFit comes in.
MediFit is a program created to make GLP-1 medications more affordable and accessible for anyone who wants to lose weight and improve their health. Whether or not their insurance plan covers weight loss drugs, employees can enroll in MediFit and gain access to medications like Wegovy and Ozempic at a significantly lower cost than what’s typically available at retail pharmacies.
This creates a win-win opportunity:
Employees get the support they need, and employers can offer a valuable solution without adding pressure to their pharmacy budgets.
Employers can even introduce MediFit as a supplemental benefit option. It’s an easy way to provide an alternative path for employees who are seeking weight loss medications, especially those who may not qualify under traditional health plan guidelines. And because the program is open to anyone, it’s flexible, scalable, and simple to integrate.
By offering MediFit, companies show their commitment to employee well-being without having to take on the full financial burden of GLP-1 coverage.
👉 Want to learn more about how MediFit works? Click here to get in touch and explore the program.
Conclusion: Balancing employee health and financial sustainability
The bottom line: How to offer GLP-1s without breaking the bank
GLP-1 medications are reshaping how employers think about pharmacy benefits. On one hand, they offer a real chance to improve employee health, reduce long-term medical costs, and boost workplace productivity. On the other hand, their high price tags create serious concerns for benefit budgets, especially for self-funded and level-funded plans.
But employers don’t have to choose between cutting costs and supporting their team’s well-being.
With pharmacy benefit solutions like Intercept Rx’s Rx Optimization Program, companies can manage high-cost medications more effectively, gain transparency, and ensure smarter spending. And with MediFit, employees can access affordable GLP-1s even if those medications aren’t covered by their health plan.
At a time when healthcare costs are rising fast, innovative solutions like these make all the difference.
Brokers and employers looking to reduce pharmacy spend while still providing high-impact health benefits should explore what Intercept Rx and MediFit have to offer.
The future of pharmacy benefits isn’t just about managing costs, it’s about making smarter, more sustainable choices for everyone.
