Perspectives from Employers on the Costs and Issues Associated with Covering GLP-1 Agonists for Weight Loss

While more large employers are covering GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, conversations with employers highlight concerns about the cost of these medications. Many of these employers have considered scaling back coverage of GLP-1 agonists for weight loss, or in some cases, employers are adding or strengthening coverage requirements.

This analysis discusses findings from the 2025 KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey, with insights gained from interviews and group discussions with human resources directors and others who manage employer health benefits. These conversations occurred in five focus groups across the United States, covering over one hundred companies employing over a quarter of a million people, held throughout the summer and fall of 2025.

The full analysis and other data on health costs are available on the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, an online information hub dedicated to monitoring and assessing the performance of the U.S. health system.