A recent Forbes article highlights ongoing concerns about GLP-1 weight-loss drugs:
“Large-scale studies show that GLP-1s don’t lead to medical cost savings, at least not in the short term… healthcare expenditures rose, with inpatient costs accounting for the largest share. This was observed for patients with and without diabetes.”
The rapid growth in GLP-1 spending has prompted insurers and Medicaid plans to limit or even eliminate coverage. Some payers are testing “deprescription” strategies – transitioning patients off the medications once they’ve reached a target weight or completed a set course of treatment.
With annual costs averaging $12,000 per patient, it’s clear why health plans are cautious. Medicaid spending alone grew from $577 million in 2019 to nearly $3.9 billion in 2023.
Amid this cost pressure, MedBen continues to recommend that clients consider medically-guided diet and lifestyle approaches – possibly in combination with other, more established medications – as a more sustainable first step. This measured stance helps balance effective treatment with financial discretion.