More US employers to drop GLP-1 coverage in 2027 as healthcare costs projected to rise 10%

U.S. employers are preparing to cut coverage for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs next year as overall healthcare costs are projected to increase by nearly 10% in 2027. A separate report from AOL, citing a Willis Towers Watson survey, confirms employers are set to reduce coverage as costs soar. This signals a significant shift in employer-sponsored plans, potentially moving high-cost obesity and diabetes medications to higher-tier formularies or excluding them entirely. The cost pressure is driven by broader medical inflation and high drug utilization. For practices, this means more prior authorization hurdles and patient affordability conversations for drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide. Monitor employer plan announcements and formulary changes during Q4 2026 open enrollment.