The health insurer Cigna will cease coverage for GLP-1 weight loss medications, including Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound, in its employee health plan starting July 1.

Details of the change to the Cigna Group medical plan were communicated to employees via email on June 1.

A spokesperson for the Cigna Group confirmed the decision to terminate this benefit.

"As drug supply increases and new options emerge, we have decided to end coverage for GLP-1 medications for weight loss under this plan," the spokesperson stated. "We remain committed to supporting our employees' health through a range of weight management programs and resources."

Popular GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound work by mimicking a hormone that helps people feel full, thereby promoting weight loss.

In a document sent to employees, Cigna advised those currently using these medications that they could purchase the drugs out-of-pocket through manufacturer websites or via TrumpRx.

The document noted that such cash payments would not count toward a deductible or the out-of-pocket maximum that enrollees must meet before insurance kicks in.

With the arrival of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill and Eli Lilly's oral drug Foundayo, weight loss drug prices have been trending downward in 2026, with the lowest doses starting at $149 per month. Americans seeking these medications are increasingly being pushed toward the cash-pay market.

Concurrently, employers have been scaling back insurance coverage for these drugs.

The spokesperson clarified that this adjustment does not affect other insurance plans outside the Cigna employee health plan, nor does it impact coverage for drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes.

The Cigna Group encompasses the health insurer Cigna, the health services division Evernorth, and the pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts.

As of the end of 2025, the company employed 67,700 people, with 88% based in the United States.