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The Ozempic boom is an opportunity for health insurers

The Ozempic boom is an opportunity for health insurers


You’d think a new class of expensive weight-loss drugs taken by millions of Americans would pose a problem for health insurers. After all, they are the ones who end up paying the bill. But it’s more complicated than that: some insurance giants could actually benefit from the Ozempic craze.

The industry denounces the cost of GLP-1 drugs, used against both diabetes and obesity. But federally backed Medicare and Medicaid still don’t cover obesity drugs, and much of the commercial market is self-insured. In other words, even if your insurance card says “Aetna” or “UnitedHealthcare,” in some cases those companies only act as administrators. This means that employers bear the risk of rising costs.

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Eleon

With a penchant for words, Eleon Smith began writing at an early age. As editor-in-chief of his high school newspaper, he honed his skills telling impactful stories. Smith went on to study journalism at Columbia University, where he graduated top of his class. After interning at the New York Times, Smith landed a role as a news writer. Over the past decade, he has covered major events like presidential elections and natural disasters. His ability to craft compelling narratives that capture the human experience has earned him acclaim. Though writing is his passion, Eleon also enjoys hiking, cooking and reading historical fiction in his free time. With an eye for detail and knack for storytelling, he continues making his mark at the forefront of journalism.
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