Key facts
- Cigna will stop covering GLP-1 weight-loss drugs for its employees effective July 1.
- The change affects drugs like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound.
- Cigna cited increased availability and new options for the decision.
- Coverage for type 2 diabetes treatment remains unaffected.
- Employees can opt for cash-pay purchases for the drugs.
Health insurer Cigna will discontinue coverage for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, such as Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound, for its own employees, effective July 1. The decision was announced in an internal email and confirmed by a Cigna spokesperson. The company cited increased availability of these medications and the emergence of new treatment options as reasons for ending coverage specifically for weight loss purposes. Cigna emphasized its continued commitment to supporting employee health through various other weight management programs and resources. The change will not affect coverage for these drugs when used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. For employees currently using the medications, Cigna suggested options for cash-pay purchases, noting these would not apply toward deductibles or out-of-pocket spending requirements. The article also mentions that new oral versions of these drugs will launch with prices starting at $149 per month for the lowest dose, and that employers have been increasingly cutting back on coverage for these medications. Cigna had 67,700 employees at the end of 2025, with 88% based in the U.S.