Navigating GLP-1s and Obesity Care: What Employers Need to Know. An insider's look with Jen Cressman.

The GLP-1/obesity care space is moving fast and the latest government announcements are only adding momentum. Jen Cressman, Head of Employer Solutions at Form Health, explains what these developments mean for employers planning for 2026 and beyond.

“The recent deals between the administration and pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are historic in scope, but it’s important to understand who’s affected and who isn’t,” Cressman says. Starting mid-2026, Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries will see GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, and Mounjaro available at $245/month, with Medicare copays of $50. Meanwhile, cash-paying consumers will have access to TrumpRx starting January 2026, with prices declining from $350/month to $250/month by 2028.

Yet for employers, the news is more nuanced. “Most employees with private insurance aren’t directly impacted by these agreements. But the announcement does set a benchmark,” Cressman notes. She predicts that commercial payors may begin negotiating similar price reductions, but in the meantime, employers still face significant challenges: managing surging demand, controlling pharmacy costs, and providing meaningful obesity care without overextending budgets.

Form Health specializes in helping employers navigate these exact challenges. “Our approach is about more than access, it’s about outcomes,” Cressman emphasizes. Through clinically supervised programs, Form Health helps companies manage GLP-1 utilization responsibly while delivering measurable results for employees’ health.

For employers, Cressman believes the timing is critical. “Even if your plan members aren’t immediately benefiting from the government deals, the landscape is shifting. Companies that plan now will be better positioned to offer effective obesity care and manage costs as the market evolves.”

The takeaway for 2026 planning: GLP-1s are no longer just a treatment they’re a strategic consideration for employer health programs. With the right approach, employers can turn rising demand and cost pressures into an opportunity to invest in long-term employee health outcomes.