Michigan's Largest Insurer Ends Coverage for Costly Weight-Loss Drugs

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will drop GLP-1 obesity drug coverage, citing cost and efficacy concerns.

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly's GLP-1 drugs, Wegovy and Zepbound, will no longer be covered under many Michigan plans.
The decision impacts fully insured large group commercial plans starting January.
GLP-1 drugs are expensive, with prices exceeding $1,000 per month per user.
Only 1% of ACA Marketplace plans cover GLP-1 drugs for obesity, despite high obesity rates in the U.S.
Cost control measures like prior authorization are common even when coverage exists.