Starbucks ends GLP-1 weight-loss coverage as employer costs climb

Starbucks will stop covering GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, joining a growing list of employers reconsidering coverage as costs surge. Bank of America CEO also noted spending $250 million annually on GLP-1s for staff, calling it a 'good investment' but highlighting the scale of the financial burden. This employer pullback creates a coverage cliff for patients who started therapy under a benefit that may now disappear. For practices, it means more prior authorization appeals, patient conversations about alternative treatments, and potential non-adherence as out-of-pocket costs become prohibitive. Anticipate increased administrative work managing these benefit changes through 2027.