This week, the American Medical Association called for insurance companies and federal payers to fully cover weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
The organization voted on Monday, passing a resolution that supported “health insurance coverage parity for evidence-based treatment of obesity, including FDA-approved medications without exclusions or additional carve-outs.”
The move from the AMA comes as insurance companies are searching for ways to avoid paying for the high cost of the medications, which have become a whole new class of obesity treatments.
The AMA voting on the resolution is a big step forward in getting coverage for the medications, as it views obesity as a major health concern, being that it could put patients at risk for other serious health consequences.
Now, the federal government and private insurers will have a decision to make, as federal law currently restricts Medicare’s ability to cover weight-loss drugs, though there have been talks in Congress to change the policy.
Private insurers, on the other hand, have viewed the drugs as a lifestyle or cosmetic medicine, classifying them as nonessential.
The diabetes drugs Ozempic and Mounjaro and GLP-1 treatments, Wegovy and Zepbound, have been used by consumers to help lose weight, though they can cost more than $1,000 per month.
The AMA also shared almost half the country may be eligible, with so many Americans being considered overweight or obese.
In response to this, insurers have begun instituting policies that make it extremely difficult to get the medications covered, The Hill reported.
Still, the AMA argues that helping fight the obesity epidemic now will result in fewer health issues moving forward.
“The costs for the patient and broader health care system associated with obesity, including the treatment of weight-related conditions and potential complications, can be substantial,” AMA said. “It is crucial to recognize the urgency of addressing this disease comprehensively and proactively through a range of suitable treatments.”
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