Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have seen insane demand as of late, and as a result, this is forcing some employers to cancel insurance coverage to offset soaring bills, according to a new report.
The popular drugs, commonly taken as shots that mimic a hormone that makes people feel “full,” can cost as much as $1,350 a month for a patient taking Wegovy and Saxenda; those two are in the class as Ozempic. As a result, spending on coverage has skyrocketed into the tens of millions, according to The Wall Street Journal. Without insurance, the “quick-fix” Ozempic can cost patients about $1,200 per month, according to WebMD. They add that, for Ozempic, Americans make up 10% of all prescriptions.
The cost has become too high for several large employers, such as Ascension Healthcare and the University of Texas System have rolled back coverage recently. A year and a half ago, UT Systems was footing a $1.5 million monthly bill for Wegovy and Saxenda despite only 3% of its employees being enrolled in a benefits plan that included them.
Ozempic, more so than Wegovy, and Saxenda, burst onto the scene after it was revealed that celebrities like Khloe Kardashian and Chelsea Handler used it. Elon Musk also proclaimed last October that he shed pounds with fasting and Wegovy.
