CVS Offers $200 Copays for Wegovy to Expand Coverage Amid Rising Demand for Weight-Loss Medicines

CVS Health's drug benefits unit, Caremark, is offering a $200 copay for Novo Nordisk's weight-loss shot, Wegovy, in an effort to expand coverage. This move follows a similar one by Cigna and could save insurers money while boosting usage. CVS has also negotiated bigger rebates on weight-loss and diabetes drugs for next year, saving between 5% and 10% on drug spending. Overall, CVS expects to save health plans $4.5 billion in 2026 based on new rebates.

CVS Health Corp.'s drug benefits unit, Caremark, has introduced a new copay option for Novo Nordisk A/S’s weight-loss shot, Wegovy. The move aims to expand coverage and increase usage of the medication by allowing health insurance plans to charge copays as high as $200. This initiative follows a similar approach by Cigna Group and is part of a broader strategy to manage the surging demand for weight-loss medicines.

The new copay option, which will take effect in 2026, is designed to save insurers money while boosting usage. Patients will pay more than a standard copay, which could be less than the nearly $500 Novo charges for patients without insurance coverage. This move is part of a broader effort by pharmacy benefit managers to negotiate drug prices and manage healthcare costs.

CVS has also negotiated bigger rebates on weight-loss and diabetes drugs for next year, saving between 5% and 10% on drug spending. The company expects to save health plans $4.5 billion in 2026 based on these new rebates, which translates to savings of just under $138 per patient.

The decision to favor Novo’s Wegovy over Eli Lilly & Co.’s Zepbound has been controversial, with some patients frustrated by the switch. However, CVS has stated that if Lilly provides more affordable pricing for Zepbound in the future, it may add the drug back to its standard formulary.

CVS’s new copay option and rebate negotiations are part of a broader trend in the healthcare industry to manage drug costs and improve patient access to medications. As the demand for weight-loss medicines continues to grow, these strategies are likely to play a significant role in shaping the future of healthcare coverage and costs.