PHARMACY BENEFITS CONSULTING
GLP-1 Class Drugs: To Cover or Not?
What employers need to know about the clinical, financial, and employee engagement implications of covering GLP-1 weight loss medications, and how to make a responsible coverage decision for your organization.
WHY THIS GUIDE MATTERS?
GLP-1 Coverage Is One of the Toughest Benefit Decisions Employers Face Today
With more than 2 in 5 U.S. adults living with obesity and GLP-1 utilization more than doubling in two years, employers are under pressure to decide whether to cover these high-cost, high-demand medications. In this guide, OneDigital's clinical, financial, and wellbeing experts break down what employers must understand to:
- Weigh the clinical evidence for and against coverage
- Understand the true financial impact on claims costs
- Evaluate GLP-1 coverage as a recruiting and retention lever
- Make a responsible, data-driven coverage decision
What’s Inside the Whitepaper
In this resource, you’ll explore:
- The clinical factors employers should weigh when evaluating GLP-1 coverage for weight management
- What current evidence suggests about treatment outcomes, side effects, and long-term use
- Why persistence and discontinuation matter when assessing the value of coverage
- The financial trade-offs employers should consider when developing a sustainable GLP-1 coverage strategy
- How drug pricing, utilization, and workforce turnover influence potential ROI
- Key considerations when evaluating the true cost of GLP-1 coverage
- How GLP-1 coverage fits into your broader recruiting, retention, and employee wellbeing strategy
- The cultural and organizational factors that should shape your decision
- Practical, lower-cost approaches to supporting employees on their weight management journey, with or without coverage
- A framework for weighing clinical, financial, and engagement factors together
- How to align your approach with your workforce, budget, and long-term goals
- Where to turn for a customized GLP-1 strategy
Weigh the Real Cost and Impact of GLP-1 Coverage
Understanding the clinical, financial, and engagement implications of GLP-1 coverage gives employers a strategic advantage. Access the guide to see how this fast-growing drug class may impact your plan, and what to do next.
The Cost Question
Covering GLP-1 drugs for weight loss adds an estimated 9% in annual medical claim spend.Understand the financial factors that shape the true cost of coverage and what to consider before you decide.
The Persistence Question
Fewer than 8.1% of patients remain on GLP-1 therapy at the three-year mark.Treatment duration and discontinuation can shape the value of coverage. Learn what to consider as you build your strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
This whitepaper gives employers a balanced, evidence-based look at GLP-1 weight loss drugs, weighing the clinical outcomes, cost implications, and workforce impact of covering them, so you can decide with confidence rather than guesswork.
GLP-1 utilization has more than doubled in two years, and roughly 1 in 3 employers now offer coverage. This guide provides a clear framework for evaluating clinical, financial, and cultural impact before deciding.
Built for HR and benefits leaders, finance teams, and executives weighing the GLP-1 coverage decision for their workforce.
No. OneDigital provides this free guide as an educational resource for employers.
You'll receive immediate access to the full PDF guide, along with the option to connect with a OneDigital clinical or pharmacy expert to discuss how GLP-1 coverage may impact your organization's strategy.