The demand for GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro has surged, driven by their effectiveness in treating obesity, type 2 diabetes, and, increasingly, their broader impact on metabolic and cardiovascular health.
But, that demand comes at a cost.
These medications can run over $1,000 per month, and most health plans are still struggling to find a sustainable way to cover them. Employers are caught in the middle: they want to meet the needs of their people and stay competitive with benefits, but covering GLP-1s can quickly drive up plan premiums or result in tough tradeoffs elsewhere.
Here’s the Challenge
Employers are seeing rising interest in these medications, both from employees with clinical need and from those pursuing weight loss support, or even phone addiction. Yet, adding full coverage can increase per-member costs, and exclusions or caps often lead to frustration, inequity, or poor adherence.
So, how do you offer access without blowing your budget?
Enter Paytient: Affordable Access Without Plan Design Changes
Paytient helps employers offer a smarter solution: give employees a flexible, fee-free way to afford their medications without requiring the employer to add costly coverage to the core health plan.
Our Health Payment Account (HPA) is a supplemental benefit that provides employees with a revolving line of credit specifically for healthcare expenses, including pharmacy. Employees can use their Paytient card to pay for GLP-1 prescriptions out of pocket, then repay over time with no interest or fees. Employers don’t assume the cost of the medication itself, but they do get the credit for offering a way to access it.
In other words, you can say “yes” to GLP-1s without saying “yes” to higher premiums.
Why This Works for Employers
No change required to your health plan design
You don’t need to adjust formulary coverage or pharmacy tiers to meet demand. Paytient sits alongside your existing benefits.
No financial exposure to the Employer for rising Rx costs
The cost of the medication is paid by the member via Paytient—not by the plan. You support access without subsidizing the drug.
Improved adherence, satisfaction, and retention
Employees feel supported, not shut out. They’re more likely to stick to their treatment and more loyal to employers who make it possible.
Smarter spend, better outcomes
Early access to treatment (especially for diabetes and obesity-related conditions) can help prevent downstream complications and high-cost claims.
What Employees Experience
Let’s say an employee is prescribed Wegovy and finds out it’s not covered under their health plan. Instead of walking away or paying upfront, they use Paytient to cover the cost—say $1,200—then repay it over several months, interest-free.
No credit check. No financial penalty. Just access.
This moment turns what could have been a denied claim and a disengaged employee into a story of support and empowerment.
The Bottom Line
You don’t have to choose between budget control and benefit innovation. Paytient helps employers thread the needle by expanding access to GLP-1 medications and other high-cost treatments, without passing the cost along to the plan or your people.
If your team is grappling with how to handle GLP-1 demand, let’s talk. There’s a smarter, more affordable way to say “yes” to your people—without breaking the system.
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