GLP-1 use for weight loss significantly impacted by Massachusetts insurance changes, data shows
CBS News • • business
Key Points:
- Insurance coverage for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in Massachusetts is set to drop by 52% in 2026, with 112,000 fewer people receiving coverage compared to 2025.
- Spending on GLP-1 drugs for weight loss nearly doubled annually from 2019 to 2025, reaching nearly $1 billion in 2025 before expected to decrease to $662 million in 2026 due to insurers ending coverage.
- Insurers continue to cover GLP-1s for diabetes treatment, but the high cost of weight-loss drug coverage has been deemed unsustainable by companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield.
- Health officials anticipate a significant price drop for GLP-1 drugs in the coming years, which could lead to the return of insurance coverage for weight loss.
- The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission plans to closely monitor the GLP-1 market to assess its impact on healthcare costs and patient access to these medications.
