Survey data checked Sept 2026 · Confirm current plan terms before deciding
For employers & brokers

Keep, restrict, or drop? Choosing your GLP-1 coverage for 2027

Five approaches employers are using, compared on the things that matter to a benefits decision. Set your priorities and the options re-rank. Every option has real trade-offs, including the ones we'd benefit from.

36%of employers cover GLP-1s for weight loss as well as diabetes
11.4%of annual claims went to GLP-1s in 2026, up from 6.9% in 2023
95%of employer cost-control programs for GLP-1s require prior authorization
27%steer employees to direct-to-consumer platforms instead

What matters most to you?

Rate each one. The options below re-rank as you go.

Your options, ranked by fit

Fit is a simple weighted score of the ratings on each card. The ratings are our judgment from published employer data, so treat the ranking as a starting point for a conversation with your broker, not an answer.

Questions to ask your broker or PBM

  1. How many members used a weight-loss GLP-1 last year, and what was our net cost per user after rebates?
  2. How many stayed on treatment past 6 and 12 months?
  3. What would prior authorization or a program requirement actually change in our numbers?
  4. If we drop coverage, how do we handle people currently on treatment?
  5. Does our insurer or PBM offer a weight-management program, and what does it cost?
  6. What notice do we owe participants, and by when?

Watch-outs for any option

  • Notice. Benefit changes usually require updated plan documents and advance notice to participants. Confirm timing with counsel.
  • Privacy. Never ask employees whether they use these medicines, and keep any program reporting to totals only.
  • Incentives. Rewards tied to program participation or health measures bring in wellness-program rules (ADA, GINA, HIPAA).
  • Fairness. Keep coverage for diabetes and other approved conditions clearly separate from weight-loss coverage.
Our interest, stated plainly SignPost Health is developing a support program for a planned December 2026 launch. Employer availability, service scope, and pricing are not yet finalized. We may have a future commercial interest in options B and D. This guide is designed to be useful whichever option you choose; its ratings are our judgment. If you'd like, the GLP-1 Cost Exposure Calculator puts numbers on these options for your plan.