Employers offer GLP-1 coverage at three times the rate for diabetes versus weight management

Employers are struggling to fund expensive GLP-1 drugs, with the Society for Human Resource Management noting that they’re more likely to offer coverage for type-2 diabetes rather than weight management. The 2026 Employee Benefits Survey found that nearly half of organizations offer coverage for diabetes, but only 15% do so for weight loss. “Some employers that offer GLP-1 coverage for weight management may require employees to first participate in wellness or weight management programs before covering the drugs,” the report notes. “Therefore, as GLP-1 coverage becomes the standard, wellness benefits may become more common as well.”