iHEAL- GLP Weight Loss Medications: What Insurance Professionals Need to Know

This course equips health/benefits agents with a practical understanding of GLP-1–based medications (and “GLP-3” as an informal shorthand for emerging triple-agonist therapies in the pipeline) and how employer plan sponsors can responsibly cover and/or support access. Agents will learn the current clinical/market landscape, the “why” for employers (health outcomes, workforce impact, cost trend), and a menu of benefit design options—from fully integrated coverage to utilization management and tax-advantaged reimbursement strategies.

Learning Objective

• Describe the current U.S. obesity prevalence and why cardiometabolic risk is a major cost and productivity driver for employers.
• Differentiate GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., semaglutide), dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists (tirzepatide), and triple-agonist therapies often referred to online as “GLP-3” (e.g., retatrutide—in development).
• Identify FDA-approved indications that most commonly drive employer coverage decisions (e.g., Wegovy for established CVD + obesity/overweight; Zepbound for chronic weight management and certain updates like OSA language in labeling).
• Explain why employers are re-evaluating coverage (demand, affordability, trend impact) and summarize current employer sentiment and adoption patterns.
• Compare at least five employer strategy “lanes” for GLP-1 access: integrated Rx coverage, medical benefit coverage pathways, utilization management, wrap-around clinical programs, and carve-out/vendor models. 
• Apply tax-advantaged reimbursement rules to weight-management supports (what can/can’t be reimbursed through HRAs/HSAs/FSAs when tied to treatment of a diagnosed condition such as obesity). 
• Build a client-ready recommendation framework that aligns plan goals (health outcomes, equity, budget) with an operational approach (PA criteria, ongoing eligibility, communication, metrics).

Approved for 2 hours of Health Benefits credits
Date: August 20, 2026
Time: 9AM - 11AM
Speaker: Tammie Grisso D'Allura, CPCU, CIC