WeightWatchers Launches Employer Program for GLP-1 Drugs

WeightWatchers has launched a first-of-its-kind solution that combines direct pricing from pharmaceutical manufacturers with flexible employer subsidy coverage for GLP-1 therapies for weight loss. Called WeightWatchers RxFlexFund, the program is integrated with the organization’s behavioral and clinical support.

With this solution, employers can cover the cost of the WeightWatchers program and contribute a set percentage for medication costs, ranging from 25% to 75%, to offset employee costs. Through this solution, employers also gain access to direct manufacturer pricing, providing transparent costs. Patients would receive medications through WeightWatchers Clinic, which was formerly the telehealth service Sequence that it acquired in 2023.

This new program opens the door to broader access without having to navigate rebates or unpredictable add-on expenses, said Scott Honken, Pharm.D., chief commercial officer of WeightWatchers. “Employers are at a crossroads when it comes to GLP-1 benefits,” he said in a news release. “Our clients consistently tell us that costs are rising, and traditional coverage models leave little flexibility or opportunity for innovation.”

Employer coverage of the GLP-1 therapies is beginning to expand, according to a recent simulation analysis by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). About 55% of employers cover GLP-1s for diabetes, and 36% cover them for both diabetes and weight loss.

This, however, is expected to increase premiums for employers. Using real-world drug cost scenarios, EBRI estimated that premium increases would range from 5.3% to 13.8%, depending on adherence, cost-sharing, and eligibility assumptions. EBRI researchers used data from MarketScan and current literature examining GLP-1 usage trends to estimate how different combinations of these variables influence total spending and insurance premiums for large and small firms.

Using a hypothetical lower-priced GLP-1 with a $200 a month cost, increases ranged from 1% to 3.9%. EBRI suggests this could be the impact if prices for GLP-1 therapies were reduced.

WeightWatchers’ Chief Medical Officer Kim Boyd, M.D., said the organization’s new model could expand access and deliver improved outcomes for employees and businesses.

The organization cites data from a study published in June 2021 that found annual healthcare expenses are reduced by 20% when people with at least one chronic condition are able to lose weight. This study found that the greatest savings were associated with the populations with the highest baseline BMI. Among patients with a BMI of 40, the savings could be $2,665 in year 2 for those with diabetes and arthritis.

The WeightWatchers program has a long history of providing programs and support for those who want to lose weight. The organization has struggled, however, since the demand for GLP-1 drugs for weight loss has grown. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2025 with plans to focus on the telehealth business it acquired in 2023.

The company emerged from bankruptcy in June 2025 with new leadership, an expanded program with Novo Nordisk, and later launched a new program for women experiencing menopause. The program with Novo Nordisk launched in July 2025 to offer Wegovy (semaglutide) through WeightWatchers Clinic.