More US employers to drop weight-loss drugs in 2027, as healthcare costs increase

About 14% of U.S. employers have already or plan to drop coverage for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in 2027, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Business Group on Health. The group projects healthcare costs would rise 9.2% in 2027 if employers don’t adjust spending, compared with 8.5% in 2026. Two-thirds of surveyed employers said they’ve seen increased use of GLP-1s. List prices cited for major drugs include $499 per month for Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and $1,349.02 per month for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy. As costs climb, employers are pushing biosimilars, reducing coverage for complex specialty drugs and exploring alternative pharmacy arrangements. Pharmacy costs were 25% of spending and are expected to rise 12% in 2027.