Half of Americans Believe only the Rich Can Afford GLP-1s without Insurance
•February 17, 2026
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Why It Matters
The high out‑of‑pocket cost limits access to effective obesity treatments, driving disparities and pressuring insurers and policymakers to address pricing and coverage gaps.
Key Takeaways
- •Median household spends 7.3% on Ozempic monthly.
- •Lowest‑income states face up to 10% income share.
- •Half of aware Americans think only rich can afford.
- •60% of users pay $100+ out‑of‑pocket monthly.
- •55% would use Ozempic if fully covered by insurance.
Pulse Analysis
The steep price of GLP‑1 medications like Ozempic is reshaping the U.S. health‑care cost landscape. While the list price hovers around $349 for lower doses, a median‑income family would need to devote roughly 7 percent of its earnings each month, and residents of states such as Mississippi could see the drug consume more than 10 percent of household income. These figures not only strain personal budgets but also ripple into employer‑provided health plans, where insurers cite GLP‑1 demand as a factor behind rising premiums for 2026.
Consumer perception amplifies the financial pressure. Over half of Americans recognize GLP‑1 drugs, and among those, 50 percent view them as a luxury only the wealthy can afford. The data show that 60 percent of current users pay $100 or more out‑of‑pocket each month, prompting many to delay initiation, skip doses, or discontinue therapy altogether. This affordability gap fuels a broader equity concern, as nearly four in ten adults are either using, have used, or are considering these treatments, yet cost barriers curtail consistent access.
Looking ahead, insurance coverage and policy interventions could alter the trajectory. Approximately 55 percent of informed consumers—especially millennials—say they would adopt Ozempic if fully covered, prompting employers to weigh drug inclusion as a talent‑attraction tool. Meanwhile, the federal government plans to cap Medicare and Medicaid payments at $245 per month for GLP‑1s starting in 2027, and the emergence of generic versions may further depress prices. These developments suggest a potential narrowing of the affordability divide, though the pace and extent of coverage expansion will determine whether broader segments of the population can benefit from these clinically proven weight‑loss therapies.
Half of Americans believe only the rich can afford GLP-1s without insurance
Uninsured Americans who pay out of pocket for Ozempic for weight loss may feel a loss in their wallet, as well as their waistline. Households that earn the median annual income would need to spend an average of 7.3% of their earnings to pay for 2 mg of Ozempic, research by ValuePenguin found.
“GLP-1 drugs have proven so popular (and so expensive) that health insurance companies have specifically cited these drugs as a reason for the higher health insurance rates we’re experiencing in 2026,” says the company’s Talon Abernathy. “That means everyone will pay more for health insurance every month to cover the cost of these new weight-loss medications.”
See also: The future of GLP-1 drugs for obesity treatment: cost, access and more
Among the takeaway messages from the research:
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Even at the lower $349 monthly price for 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg or 1 mg, Ozempic still would take up 5.1% of household income.
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Ozempic could consume one-tenth of household income in the lowest-income states. Mississippi (10.1%) leads, followed by West Virginia and Louisiana (both at 9.8%). Conversely, households in the higher-income states of Massachusetts and New Jersey, along with the District of Columbia, spend 5.7% or less.
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Ozempic and similar GLP-1 drugs are widely known, with 58% of Americans at least somewhat familiar with them. Nearly four in 10 adults currently are using, have used or are considering using these medications. Among those familiar with them, half believe only wealthy people can afford Ozempic or similar drugs for weight loss, while 21% disagree and 28% are neutral.
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Among current users, 60% pay $100 or more out of pocket each month for GLP-1 medications. Fifty-eight percent of users who pay out of pocket say they have delayed taking the drug, skipped doses or stopped using their medication because they couldn’t afford it.
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Insurance coverage could be a game-changer. Fifty-five percent of consumers who know about GLP-1s, including two-thirds of millennials, say they would be likely to use Ozempic for weight loss if it were fully covered by insurance.
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For those who qualify, 90% of health plans cover GLP-1 drugs for Type 2 diabetes, while just more than 30% cover these drugs for obesity, according to a Pharmaceutical Strategies Group study.
“We’ve already seen a strong reaction from insurance companies, especially when it comes to the health insurance you get through your employer,” Abernathy says. “Companies know these drugs are popular, and offering coverage for them can help attract and retain employees. At present, insurance companies are trying to thread the needle of offering access to these drugs while maintaining profitability.”
He also believes the rise of generic GLP-1 drugs, along with efforts by the current administration to bring down drug prices across the board, likely will help lower prices in the near future. Beginning in 2027, eligible Medicare and Medicaid members are expected to pay no more than $245 a month for popular GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound.
This article was originally published on BenefitsPRO, a sister site of HR Executive. For more content like this delivered to your inbox, sign up for BenefitsPRO newsletters here.
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