Workers Are Willing to Switch Jobs for GLP-1 Coverage as U.S. Spending Soars
Rising prescription drug costs are reshaping health benefits across the U.S., especially as demand grows for GLP-1 medicines such as Wegovy, Zepbound and Ozempic. The latest flashpoint is employer coverage, with new national data showing some workers are open to changing jobs to get access to those drugs. That matters because GLP-1 spending has climbed fast enough to become a boardroom issue for large companies and benefit managers in 2025.
New survey data puts a number on worker demand
A survey released August 7 by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans found 22% of U.S. workers said they would consider switching jobs for better GLP-1 coverage. The same report said 34% of employers currently cover GLP-1 drugs for obesity, while 69% cover them for diabetes treatment. Those figures underscore how uneven access remains from one workplace plan to another.
The foundation said its findings reflect a benefit decision that is moving quickly from optional perk to recruiting issue. In the same August 7 release, 51% of employers said GLP-1 coverage has affected or may affect overall health plan costs. That cost pressure is landing at the same time more workers are asking about obesity treatment coverage during hiring and enrollment, according to the group.
Employers nationwide are weighing costs, but plan details vary
The impact is national, since most workers get health insurance through an employer plan, according to federal coverage data from KFF. What is confirmed is that coverage rules differ widely by employer, insurer and pharmacy benefit manager in all 50 states. What is not yet known is how many workers have already changed jobs specifically because of GLP-1 benefits, because no federal database tracks that switch in real time.
Large employers have been especially vocal about the price tag. Mercer said in its 2024 employer survey that nearly half of large employers with 500 or more employees covered GLP-1 drugs for obesity, but many also used prior authorization or other limits. That means two workers in the same city can face very different access rules depending on who employs them.
Spending keeps rising, and workers may see tighter rules ahead
The cost story is a big reason this is happening. IQVIA reported U.S. spending on GLP-1 medicines reached roughly $71 billion in 2024 when diabetes and obesity uses were combined, reflecting one of the fastest-growing drug categories in the country. Separate company reports from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have also shown continued demand growth in 2025 for Wegovy and Zepbound.
For workers and families, the practical takeaway is simple: job-based coverage for these drugs is still expanding, but it is not standard. Employers may keep offering access while also adding step therapy, prior authorization or BMI requirements, according to benefit consultants at Mercer and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. For now, the most consistent national trend is that GLP-1 coverage has become both a health benefit and a labor market issue.
