Cigna pulled back GLP-1 weight-loss coverage for its own employees July 1. Now it says its clients have been doing the same.
On a July 30 earnings call, Cigna President and CEO Brian Evanko said Evernorth Health Services has seen “a slight downtick” in the percentage of employers that cover GLP-1s for weight management.
“That produces a modest headwind to our 2026 results, which, fortunately, was overwhelmed — or was more than offset — by the strength in specialty in the second quarter,” Mr. Evanko said.
He reiterated how only 15% to 20% of insurance branch Cigna Healthcare’s clients cover GLP-1s for weight loss. Cigna said its insurance business works with many smaller employers. Roughly 50% of Evernorth’s clients had covered GLP-1s for weight loss as of May 2025.
“The decision that we made in our employee benefit plan is driven by the exact same set of challenges that many of our clients are facing, specifically where the net cost of the drug is straining the overall affordability of the plan,” Mr. Evanko said.
Mr. Evanko said the Cigna workforce has access to a supplemental discount program for the drugs, as well as clinical programs. GLP-1 coverage for diabetes remains intact.
Prior to Cigna’s pullback, the company had a relatively bullish stance with GLP-1s. Cigna built out a suite of GLP-1 benefit programs for its employer clients, including offerings to cap costs and enable home delivery.
Mr. Evanko said the company would reevaluate its internal GLP-1 policy “should drug manufacturers decide to meaningfully discount the net prices they offer.”
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