Employers Reject Weight-Loss Drugs for Employees

As the use of diabetes-related medications for weight loss increases, employers are cutting coverage for these drugs due to their high costs. Prescription drugs like Ozempic can cost up to $1,350 a month, leading to significant expenses for health insurers. In response, employers, such as the University of Texas System, are eliminating coverage for weight-loss medications from their employee health plans. This highlights the challenges of a for-profit healthcare system and raises questions about the potential benefits of a Medicare-for-all approach. The popularity of these weight-loss drugs is driven by influencers and celebrities, but their high prices make them inaccessible for most people and their employers.