Carving Out GLP-1 Coverage May Lower Employer, Patient Spending: Eric Levin

As employers grapple with the soaring demand for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications, Eric Levin, CEO and cofounder of Scripta, says innovative savings tools may offer a way to balance affordability with access, in an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^®.

Levin described the GLP-1 market as “quickly moving,” noting that pricing dynamics can shift within weeks. Still, he pointed to one emerging strategy that employers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are increasingly considering: carving out GLP-1 coverage for weight loss and pairing it with alternative purchasing mechanisms.

One model Levin highlighted involves a savings-card approach, such as programs offered through partners like RxSaveCard. Under this structure, employers remove GLP-1s for weight loss from the traditional insurance benefit and instead allow members to purchase medications through lower-cost, direct-to-consumer channels. For example, buying directly from a manufacturer such as Eli Lilly and Company via LillyDirect can offer transparent monthly pricing—often in the $299 to $499 range—compared with list prices that may exceed $1200 through insurance before rebates.

“It just gives everybody access to the lowest price on the market and complete transparency about what they’re going to spend,” he said.

Using a savings card, employers and employees can then split the known cash price. Levin offered a simplified example: an employer contributes $250 per month, and the member pays the remainder. Although still a meaningful expense, the shared cost can be far more predictable and manageable than navigating deductibles, coinsurance, and opaque rebate structures within traditional coverage.

Beyond price transparency, Levin noted that some direct-purchase options include additional services, such as weight-loss coaching or clinical support, which may influence employer decisions.

Through Scripta’s GLP-1 buying guide, which is regularly updated in the app, the company aggregates pricing, purchasing channels, and support offerings in one place. Levin said the goal is to provide a trusted, centralized resource in a rapidly evolving market, helping employers manage aggregate spending while ensuring members retain access to effective treatments.