The discussion over new weight-loss drugs, which can cost more than $10,000 a year, has shifted from efficacy to price. The American Medical Association's house of delegates earlier this month adopted a resolution calling on insurers to cover the cost, "including FDA-approved medications without exclusions or additional carve-outs."
"The AMA will urge health insurers to provide coverage of available FDA-approved weight-loss medications, including GLP-1 medications, to demonstrate a commitment to the health and well-being of our patients," said Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, an AMA trustee.
Many insurers have been reluctant to cover the cost of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss, noting they have to be taken indefinitely to be successful. Federal law bars Medicare from paying for weight-loss drugs. Some employers will pay for the cost of weight- loss drugs for their employees but others, including Mayo Clinic and other health systems, have limited or dropped coverage because of the high cost.
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