KFF Reports Higher Cost of Weight-Loss Drugs in the U.S. Compared to Other Countries

KFF Reports Higher Cost of Weight-Loss Drugs in the U.S. Compared to Other Countries


A box of the diabetes drug​ Ozempic rests on a pharmacy counter in Los Angeles, April 17, 2023.

Mario Tama | Getty Images

Blockbuster weight-loss drugs are priced significantly higher in the U.S. than in other large, ‌high-income countries, according to a​ new​ analysis​ released Thursday.

The report ‍from KFF, a health policy organization,‌ comes as many U.S. health insurers balk at the extreme cost of‍ weight-loss drugs⁤ and drop the medications‍ from their plans.

At⁣ roughly $1,000 per month on average for medications that are typically taken over a long period of time, the‍ drugs are straining insurers’ ⁤budgets. But many of the 100 million American adults who are obese can’t ‍afford to pay out of pocket for the treatments, called GLP-1‌ agonists.

KFF compared list prices — the price a drugmaker sets before insurance or any discounts — available through website searches.‌

Some ‌countries negotiate directly with drugmakers such as Novo Nordisk to ‍set lower⁣ list ⁢prices for medications,…

2023-08-17 15:58:00
Post from www.cnbc.com

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