A new Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll shows that about half the US adult population is receptive to the idea of taking “a safe and effective prescription weight loss drug.” It’s not surprising; so many adults are trying to lose weight, But, the most effective drugs now on the market are extremely costly, and Medicare, as well as many corporate health insurers, will not cover them for weight loss.
Though a large portion of Americans are overweight, only a very small portion of them have taken a drug to help lose weight as of now. The drugs are expensive. They often are not covered by insurance and require injections, They might need to be taken for the rest of your life to keep weight off. And, they are not FDA-approved for weight loss.
The KFF poll finds that once people learn that the weight-loss drugs currently available are administered through regular injections, many fewer are interested in taking them. The percentage of people interested in taking one of these drugs also drops if their insurance does not cover them and if the Food and Drug Administration does not approve them for weight loss. Interest also declines when people learn that weight-loss drugs must be taken in perpetuity if people want to avoid regaining weight.
Increasingly, insurers are finding ways not to cover these drugs for weight loss. They can cost as much as $28,000 a year. So, these drugs could drive up people’s insurance premiums significantly if covered for everyone wanting to lose weight. Insurers tend to cover these drugs for people with disabilities.
To contain spending, some insurers are not approving these new weight-loss drugs unless people take less costly drugs first. Some insurers are requiring prior authorization and asking for people’s diagnosis and body mass index.
If insurers expand their coverage of weight-loss drugs, insurance premiums for everyone are sure to go up. But, a large portion of the population does not seem to care, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation poll.
NB: If you’re thinking about losing weight, read this. Being mildly overweight in older age has its benefits!
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