By Amina Niasse
NEW YORK, June 2 (Reuters) – Health insurer Cigna will stop covering GLP-1 weight-loss drugs including Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound in its employee health plan effective July 1, according to materials viewed by Reuters on Tuesday.
Details of the change in the Cigna Group Medical Plan were announced in an email to employees on June 1.
A Cigna spokesperson confirmed that it was ending the coverage.
“As availability has increased and new options have emerged, we’ve made the decision to end our plan’s coverage for GLP-1s for weight loss,” the spokesperson said. “We remain committed to supporting our employees’ health through a range of weight management programs and resources.”
Wildly popular GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound promote weight loss by mimicking a hormone that keeps the stomach feeling full.
In a document circulated to employees, Cigna suggested those currently using the medications can choose to pay for the drugs with cash through manufacturer sites or TrumpRx.
The cash-pay purchases will not apply toward a deductible or the amount of spending required before enrollees can use their health coverage, the document said.
The price of weight-loss drugs has been dropping in 2026 with the launch of Novo’s Wegovy pill and Lilly’s oral Foundayo, which feature prices that start at $149 per month for the lowest dose. Americans have been increasingly pushed to the cash-pay market for the medications.
At the same time, employers have been cutting back on their coverage of the drugs.
The spokesperson said the change will not impact coverage for plans outside of Cigna’s employee health plan or coverage of the drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Those currently using the medications have until June 30 to refill their prescription. Weight regain is common for patients who stop taking the medications, and benefits often fade within two years, early research has found.
Cigna said that for employees who had insurance approvals for the drugs, it would cover older, generic weight-loss drugs including phentermine, diethylpropion, benzphetamine and phendimetrazine, which are less effective than GLP-1s.
The Cigna Group operates health insurer Cigna, health services unit Evernorth and pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts.
The company had 67,700 employees at the end of 2025, 88% of whom were based in the U.S.
(Reporting by Amina Niasse; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot)
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