August Obesity Coverage Watch: The Latest Data & Policy Shifts at the State and Federal Levels

August 28, 2025

National Wellness Month is a time to reflect on and prioritize the factors that contribute to mental, emotional and physical well-being. For millions of Americans, feeling their best means treating their obesity and having access to comprehensive, evidence-based healthcare to support their health journey. 

Despite data showing that the use of obesity management medications reduces the all-cause mortality rate by 30%, millions of individuals living with obesity continue to navigate a system riddled with barriers that limit their ability to ensure their health and wellness.  

As National Wellness Month comes to a close, let it serve as a reminder of the urgent need for employers and policymakers to create systems that protect access to the full continuum of obesity care.  

🧭the evolving policy landscape: new efforts to expand comprehensive obesity care  

A Pilot to Expand Comprehensive Obesity Care: Earlier this month, The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration is potentially planning to experiment with a pilot that would cover obesity management medications under Medicare and Medicaid.  

  • How it would work: The 5-year pilot, which would be conducted through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), would allow state Medicaid programs and Medicare Part D plans to cover GLP-1 medications. The model would begin in April 2027 for Medicaid and January 2027 for Part D plans.  
    • “While we await further information, we are encouraged to see that the Administration may be considering a pilot program that would broaden coverage of obesity management medications for Medicare Part D and Medicaid beneficiaries. Obesity is a serious chronic disease associated with over 200 health complications, many of which impact women specifically—such as breast and ovarian cancers. Expanding coverage for all forms of evidence-based obesity care would be a crucial step toward addressing the obesity crisis in this country. For the millions of individuals living with obesity who receive health benefits through Medicare and Medicaid, we sincerely hope that the Administration will prioritize this important issue.”  

🎯state of play: obesity coverage is becoming more inconsistent across the country  

Massachusetts Public Employees Lose Coverage: Massachusetts’ Governor Maura Healey recently signed the 2026 state budget, and vetoed language that would have provided health insurance coverage of obesity management medications for 460,000 state employees and retirees. 

  • Moves like this not only further stigmatize obesity as not worthy of treatment but also undermine the long-term savings and improvements to overall workforce health that come with sustained access to the full range of obesity care.  

A New Index Measuring the Success Across the U.S. in Addressing, Preventing & Managing Obesity: Economist Impact has released the United States Obesity Response Index – which seeks to measure all 50 states’ performance based on three pillars of policy and governance, food quality and access and physical activity.  

  • Minnesota ranks #1 in terms of overall strongest obesity response at 69.2, with Kentucky and Colorado coming in second and third, respectively. 
    • Kansas ranks #1 in terms of overall weakest obesity response at 38.1, with Arizona and Georgia coming in second and third, respectively.  
  • Those living with obesity deserve better than a D+: Across the U.S., approximately 117 million American adults – almost half of the population – are living with obesity. Despite the prevalence of obesity, on average the states score 54 out of 100, with only 14 achieving the equivalent of a passing grade of 60 or higher.  

📊what the data tell us: access pays off  

Employers save big when implementing the full range of sustained obesity care: Ochsner Health recently integrated comprehensive weight management support into its digital health platform, which includes access to evidence-based obesity management medications, nutritional counseling and behavioral health resources. The results speak for themselves:  

  • Members saved an average of $2,200 annually 
  • ER visits dropped by 30% and hospital admissions declined by 27%  
  • 80% of participants achieved hypertension and diabetes control after 6 months of the program  

New data solidifies the overwhelming desire for GLP-1 coverage: A new survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) finds that 64% of employees believe their employer should cover GLP-1s. 

If you’re interested in speaking with key organizational leaders, patient advocates or healthcare providers in the evolving obesity space, please contact us at info@everybodycovered.org. 

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