As demand for prescription weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy remains high, employers are feeling growing pressure to cover them, and that pressure isn’t going away.

In 2023, 45% of American adults surveyed were interested in weight loss prescriptions, and 80% said insurance should cover GLP-1s for obese adults. More notably, 53% of Americans said insurance should cover the cost of weight loss drugs for anyone who wants to lose weight. This demand is reflected in the market value of GLP-1s expected to reach $77 billion by 2030.

During a thought leadership spotlight at From Day One’s Chicago conference, Dr. Avantika Waring, chief medical officer at 9amHealth, shared insight into creating sustainable care solutions for overall cardiometabolic health treatment. She spoke about what successful, sustainable weight care benefits look like for both employers and employees.

9amHealth helps organizations save costs with tailored and comprehensive cardiometabolic care plans amidst the growing demand for GLP-1s, says Waring. According to a 2024 survey, 67% of respondents would likely or be very likely to stay at jobs they don't like if weight loss medication were covered.“This is something that people really value, and it’s very hard when people change jobs and they lose coverage to kind of go on and off,” she said. 

Another crucial takeaway of the survey is that respondents value weight loss coverage more than unlimited PTO, work-from-home or hybrid work models, and team-bonding activities. 

Does the demand justify the cost for employers? The annual healthcare costs for individuals with obesity rise with the severity of the condition, making effective treatment a potential cost-saver, says Waring. Successful weight loss, she says, can lead to lower monthly medical spending.

Picking the right population is another aspect to consider because employers will see a higher ROI providing comprehensive weight loss care to an employee who has severe obesity and other chronic conditions. “What conditions do they have? Are the conditions severe? Are they mild conditions that are likely to respond to lifestyle only? That’s how you’re going to really maximize the value,” she said. 

Employers can consider medications more affordable than GLP-1s as part of an effective weight health and obesity management program, says Waring. There are more affordable weight management medications in the form of oral pills that aren’t being considered because of our current GLP-1 era. “We have a lot of tools in our toolbox, and part of the kind of challenge, and also the fun, is figuring out what type of treatment is going to match best with the individual patient.”

Lastly, when employers choose to cover GLP-1s in a controlled way, it gives employees who need it the most access based on clear medical criteria. 

What Successful Weight Benefits Look Like  

Comprehensive weight management care incorporates a program, physician, or clinical group providing multi-disciplinary expertise. This makes it easier to identify effective weight care benefits.

9amHealth uses a “smart” triage to deliver efficient care, incorporating AI-driven clinical decision support, multi-disciplinary specialty expertise, and updated literature and protocols as further guidance, she says. “You want to work with a team that really functions like a clinic, and they can help you connect with your primary care, and get your referrals to specialists within your network,” Waring said.

Successful weight benefits cover lab testing to discover undiagnosed underlying conditions. This helps individuals receive the proper medications and personalized guidance and coaching they need.  

About 60% of 9amHealth members have other health conditions, which is why the organization recommends comprehensive cardiometabolic screenings and provides tailored virtual care, says Waring. Effective weight care benefits also involve selecting the right, insurance-covered medications based on each individual’s full health profile and addressing lifestyle challenges like dietary needs and family responsibilities as part of goal-setting.

“So really, what we’re trying to do at 9am is bring all of these components of care together, and I do think that that provides a really great experience for people that helps them to be successful, not just in the short term, but in the long term.”

Editor’s note: From Day One thanks our partner, 9amHealth, for sponsoring this thought leadership spotlight. 

Stephanie Reed is a freelance news, marketing, and content writer. Much of her work features small business owners throughout diverse industries. She is passionate about promoting small, ethical, and eco-conscious businesses.

(Photos by Tim Hiatt for From Day One)