Employers are turning to health savings accounts and nutrition counseling as a way to meet employee demand for GLP‑1 drugs without adding the medication to their benefit plans.
Coverage gaps push workers toward flexible spending options
According to a recent study by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, only about one‑third of companies currently cover GLP‑1 medications for weight loss. The same report notes that a mere 9% of employers who do not provide coverage are actively considering it.
Instead, roughly 20% of firms advise staff to use flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health savings accounts (HSAs) or integrated health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to pay for the drugs. The recommendation reflects the rising cost of these treatments, which accounted for 11.4% of corporate health‑care claims in 2025, up from 6.9% in 2023.
While direct coverage remains limited, many organizations are expanding ancillary services. Carey Wooton, associate vice president of education at the International Foundation, said that nearly three‑quarters of employers now provide disease management and case management programs, and more than six in ten offer nutritional counseling. A similar share also cover bariatric surgery for eligible employees.
Related: 5th Circuit Says Secondhand Harassment Fuels Hostile Workplace
Weight‑loss drug use climbs as obesity rates dip
Gallup data show a sharp increase in adult use of GLP‑1 medications for weight loss. In a May‑June survey of 5,065 U.S. adults, 11% reported taking a GLP‑1 drug to lose weight, a figure almost four times higher than two years earlier. Overall, 15% said they had used the medication for weight loss at some point, marking a nine‑point rise.
The trend coincides with a modest decline in the national obesity rate, which fell to 36.4% in 2026 from a record 39.9% in 2022. Gallup described the shift as “a statistically meaningful decline that continues to inversely track with increased usage of GLP‑1 medicine nationally.” Diabetes diagnoses have remained relatively steady since 2023 after a long period of gradual increase.
Since the FDA approved Wegovy in 2021, several other GLP‑1 drugs have entered the market, expanding options for patients seeking medical weight loss.
Potential cost savings for employers
A January report from risk‑consultation firm Aon examined data from more than 50 million individuals, including 192,000 GLP‑1 users, over a two‑year period. The analysis found that medical cost growth was three percentage points lower over 18 months for those using GLP‑1 drugs for weight loss compared with non‑users.
Related: Court clears employer in Cuban mans lawsuit
These findings suggest that, despite higher drug spend, broader health outcomes could offset expenses. Employers that combine limited drug coverage with robust disease‑management programs may achieve a net benefit, especially as obesity‑related complications decline.
Nevertheless, the cost barrier remains significant. The high price tag of GLP‑1 therapies continues to deter many firms from adding them to standard formularies, prompting a reliance on employee‑directed spending mechanisms.
Employers watch costs closely.
Leave a Reply