A combined image shows an injector pen of Zepbound, Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drug, and boxes of Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk.
Reuters
Prescriptions for blockbuster weight-loss drugs in the United States more than doubled in 2024, even with limited insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket costs for treatments, according to data released Thursday by drug savings company GoodRx.
These numbers further speak to the insatiable demand for a fast-growing class of drugs called GLP-1 and GIP agonists, which mimic gut hormones to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar. This includes Novo NordiskWegovy, the weight loss drug Elie LillyZepbound’s obesity treatment has high list prices of about $1,000 a month before insurance or savings cards.
Prescription fills for Wegovy and Zepbound have increased by more than 100% and 300%, respectively, since the start of 2024. Zepbound’s increase reflects its first year on the market, as it was approved in the United States. United in November 2023. Wegovy gained US approval in 2021.
“It’s just a pretty astronomical increase in sales, and because of that, a lot of eyes are on them because of their affordability and accessibility,” said Tori Marsh, director of research at GoodRx, in an interview.
The data comes from GoodRx’s new Weight Loss Medications Tracker, which examines filling trends and spending patterns in the United States for popular weight loss medications.
The high fill rates come even though only 9% of people with commercial insurance have unrestricted coverage from Zepbound and 14% have unrestricted coverage from Wegovy, according to GoodRx. This refers to insurance coverage without additional hurdles for patients to jump through, such as prior authorization or higher BMI requirements.
Much higher rates of patients – about 60 to 70 percent – benefit from insurance plans with more restrictive drug coverage. But Marsh said out-of-pocket costs can add up, even if a patient has insurance coverage for weight loss treatment.
The average policyholder taking Zepbound can expect to pay more than $2,500 a year in co-pays for the drug, she said. GoodRx found that people spent an average of $231 out of pocket for a monthly prescription of Zepbound from January 2023 to October of this year.
“Insurance just isn’t a stopgap solution like it used to be,” Marsh said.
Meanwhile, nearly one in five people with commercial insurance have no coverage for at least one brand-name GLP-1 and GIP agonist prescribed for weight loss.
GoodRx found that Americans overspent at least $200 million by paying full retail price for weight-loss drugs instead of taking advantage of savings options, such as GoodRx coupons or assistance programs offered by Eli Lilly or Novo Nordisk. GoodRx said it calculated the overpayment amount based on the average price people could have paid for a drug with a GoodRx discount.
GoodRx said people without insurance can save an average of $250 a month, or $3,000 a year, by using its coupons for weight-loss drugs.
The GoodRx data is consistent with other research indicating inconsistent coverage for weight-loss drugs in the United States. For example, a survey released in October found that less than a fifth of the nation’s large employers include coverage for these treatments in their health insurance plans.
The federal Medicare plan also does not cover weight loss treatments unless they are approved and prescribed for another health problem. Research has shown that drug coverage could significantly increase costs for employers and state and federal governments.
But the Biden administration proposed a rule in November that would allow Medicare and Medicaid to cover weight-loss drugs for obese patients. If approved by the incoming Trump administration, the rule would significantly expand access to treatment.
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