Hennepin Healthcare’s decision to cut the availability of Wegovy and other injectable weight-loss drugs from its health plan next year has left many employees feeling devastated and at risk of regaining the weight they worked hard to lose. Maja Smedberg, a social worker who lost 30 pounds in five months with the help of Wegovy, now faces the possibility of gaining it all back when her employer stops covering the cost of the prescription. With the drug priced at over $1,200 per month, Smedberg and her coworkers are urging their employer to maintain access to the medication that has improved their weight, health, self-image, and happiness.
Hennepin Healthcare’s decision to cut these weight-loss drugs puts them in the midst of a national debate about the effectiveness and cost of such medications in combating the worsening obesity epidemic in the United States. With Minnesota’s adult obesity rate surpassing 33% in 2022, the need for effective treatments is more crucial than ever. However, the health system cites a $120 million budget gap for 2024 and a 20% increase in the cost of its health plan as reasons for the cuts.
Dr. David Hilden, chairman of Hennepin Healthcare’s medical department, acknowledges the potential risks of patients regaining weight once they stop taking the medication. However, he also emphasizes the importance of healthy eating and fitness habits as supplements to the medication’s benefits. The cost-effectiveness of these drugs is also under scrutiny, with reports indicating that patients on GLP-1 drugs for weight loss ended up costing more than comparable patients who weren’t.
While Hennepin Healthcare and other employers and government health plans will still cover the cost of these drugs for individuals with diabetes or in the at-risk category of prediabetes, those without these conditions are left without access. This decision affects individuals like Smedberg, who do not have diabetes but have benefited from the medication in their weight loss journey.
The high cost of Wegovy has sparked criticisms from both patients and healthcare providers. Manufacturer Novo Nordisk argues that the initial cost is necessary to recoup investments in drug research and development. However, Hilden believes that the prices are unnecessarily high and forcing his health system to make cuts. Patients like Smedberg and psychiatric nurse Steve Hoffer are left wondering if they will need to become diabetic to continue accessing the medication or even considering traveling to Mexico or Canada where prices are significantly lower.
The loss of access to Wegovy and similar drugs not only jeopardizes the weight loss achievements of individuals like Smedberg and Hoffer but also impacts their self-esteem, confidence, and how others treat them. Additionally, the financial burden of affording the drug out of pocket is a major concern for many, considering the high costs involved.
As the debate over the availability and cost of weight-loss drugs continues, employees at Hennepin Healthcare and other affected individuals are left grappling with the future of their weight loss journey and overall well-being.