More than 450 employees at The Cigna Group have signed a petition challenging the company’s decision to end GLP-1 weight-loss coverage for its workforce.
Cigna stopped covering GLP-1s for weight loss through its employee health plan July 1. The company still covers the drugs for diabetes.
In the wake of the decision, hundreds of Cigna employees detailed their experiences with GLP-1s in a petition sent to leadership in early July, according to a Sept. 2 report from WFSB. The employee who started the petition told the news outlet that she had tried to lose weight in a variety of ways over the years. While a gastric bypass surgery helped her prepare for a knee replacement, her doctor also recommended GLP-1s — which proved successful.
The employee said her out-of-pocket cost for GLP-1s was roughly $25 per month with Cigna’s coverage, but the drugs now cost around $500 per month. Despite the petition’s traction, the employee said Cigna is not changing its policy.
“As an employer, we regularly make updates to our health coverage to maintain a plan that meets the needs of our unique employee base, while also managing affordability for all those who rely on it. We understand that this change is very personal for some employees, and we appreciated their willingness to share their stories with us directly. The decision to end coverage of GLP-1s for weight loss was made carefully, with research and input from leaders across the company, including clinical leaders,” a company spokesperson told Becker’s. “We will continue to support our employees on their health journeys through our Omada coaching platform and several other resources for weight management covered by our medical plan.”
Cigna’s choice to drop this coverage for its own employees follows the company building out GLP-1 benefit programs for its employer clients. In May 2025, the company said about half of Evernorth Health Services’ clients were covering GLP-1 costs for weight loss. About 15% to 20% of clients under the insurance branch, Cigna Healthcare, were doing the same. Those tended to be smaller employers.
Cigna has about 67,700 employees, according to its website.
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