Semaglutide Users Have 27% Lower Medical Costs Than Non-Users in Overweight Patients with Multiple Conditions | Research

The takeaway

Real-world claims data shows semaglutide users with overweight/obesity and multiple complications had 27% lower total medical costs than matched non-users.

27% lower medical costs
$891 vs $1,213 per patient per month for semaglutide users vs. non-users

What the researchers found

Semaglutide users with overweight/obesity and multimorbidity had 27% lower total medical costs ($891 vs $1,213/month) compared to matched non-users.

Why it matters

Demonstrating cost savings strengthens the economic case for insurance coverage of obesity medications, which remains a major access barrier.

How the study worked

Retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study using Komodo Health claims database; patients with overweight/obesity and ≥2 obesity-related complications.

What this study cannot tell us

Short follow-up (101 days); medication costs not included in comparison; healthy user bias possible despite matching; retrospective design.

How to read the evidence

Retrospective propensity-matched claims analysis — strong for health economics but short follow-up and potential residual confounding.

When this study was published

Published 2026 in Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research.

The bigger picture

The cost-effectiveness argument may be what ultimately expands insurance coverage of GLP-1 RAs for obesity — showing they save money, not just improve health.

Questions still open

Do cost savings persist or increase over longer treatment periods?
Does the cost benefit hold when medication costs are included in total healthcare spending?

Common questions

Does semaglutide save money overall?

This study found semaglutide users had 27% lower medical costs, but medication costs were not included. The total economic picture depends on drug pricing and duration of use.

Why does this matter for insurance coverage?

If semaglutide reduces overall medical costs by preventing expensive complications, insurers may find it cost-effective to cover, potentially expanding access for patients.

Read the original research

Real-world healthcare resource utilization and medical costs in patients with overweight or obesity and multimorbidity treated with semaglutide in the United States.

Expert review of pharmacoeconomics & outcomes research, 26(2), 289-301

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Arora, Prachi; Dabbous, Firas; Udayachalerm, Sariya; Saiontz-Martinez, Cynthia; Zhao, Zhenxiang; O Hartaigh, Briain; Fabricatore, Anthony; Bassan, Matthew; Alvarez, Sara; Fitch, Angela. (2026). Real-world healthcare resource utilization and medical costs in patients with overweight or obesity and multimorbidity treated with semaglutide in the United States.. Expert review of pharmacoeconomics & outcomes research, 26(2), 289-301. https://doi.org/10.1080/14737167.2025.2610206