{
  "id": 3276447,
  "title": "More US employers to drop weight-loss drugs in 2027, as healthcare costs increase",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/more-us-employers-to-drop-weight-loss-drugs-in-2027-as-healthcare",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-25T14:12:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/more-us-employers-to-drop-weightloss-drugs-in-2027-as-healthcare-costs-increase-4875598"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The U.S. Business Group on Health has reported that around 14% of American employers are set to discontinue the use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, such as Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound, by 2027. This decision is driven by the escalating healthcare costs, which are projected to rise by 9.2% in 2027, up from 8.5% in 2026. The survey, conducted by the Business Group on Health, revealed that two-thirds of the employers surveyed reported an increase in the utilization of these drugs. The monthly costs of Wegovy and Zepbound are $499 and $1,349.02 respectively. Ellen Kelsay, president of the Business Group on Health, emphasized the difficulty employers face in budgeting and forecasting due to these rising costs. The group advocates for innovative approaches to deliver value and improved health outcomes. The surge in healthcare costs has led employers to encourage the use of cheaper biosimilars, drop coverage for complex drugs, and explore alternative pharmacy arrangements. Pharmacy costs, which account for a quarter of employers' healthcare spending, are expected to increase by 12% in 2027. GLP-1 weight-loss drug coverage has decreased from 72% in 2025 to 60% in 2026. Cancer remains the most frequently cited condition driving healthcare spending, with 70% of firms citing it as their top cost driver, a rise from 58% in 2025. Musculoskeletal and cardiovascular conditions follow as top cost drivers.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "14% of U.S. employers plan to stop using GLP-1 weight-loss drugs by 2027",
    "Healthcare costs expected to rise 9.2% in 2027 from 8.5% in 2026",
    "Pharmacy costs, accounting for a quarter of employers' healthcare spending, to increase 12% in 2027"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}