How GLP-1s Could Impact Workers' Comp Claims

What you’ll find below:

• Research on GLP-1 Use, Medical Costs, and Work Absences
• What Growing GLP-1 Use Could Mean for Workers’ Comp Claims
• Takeaways for Claims Professionals

As GLP-1 medications become more common, they’re also showing up more often in workers’ comp claims. That raises an important question: could these medications help injured workers recover faster and reduce claim costs?

A Closer Look at GLP-1s

A study published in The American Journal of Managed Care explored how GLP-1 use relates to medical costs and work outcomes among employees with obesity. Researchers used data from more than 3.6 million employees at self-insured U.S. employers and identified more than 127,000 employees with obesity for the study. They then compared employees taking GLP-1 medications with those who were not.

The results showed that employees taking GLP-1 medications had higher overall medical costs and more absence days than those who were not taking them. Medical costs were 19.4% higher for GLP-1 users, who also had 0.86 more absence days on average. There was no statistically significant difference in short-term disability days or costs between the two groups.

One reason the results may look surprising is the health profile of the people taking GLP-1s. Employees in the study who were prescribed these medications had higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease than those who were not taking them. That means the higher costs and absence days may reflect the overall health of the group, rather than the effect of the medication itself.

For claims professionals, the findings highlight the importance of looking at the health conditions behind a GLP-1 prescription. When a GLP-1 prescription appears in a claim, considering the broader health picture can provide important context for the claim as a whole.

There is also an important limitation to keep in mind: the follow-up period was one year. If GLP-1s eventually lead to lower costs through sustained weight loss, that benefit may take longer to appear than this study was designed to capture.

Takeaways for Claims Professionals

GLP-1 use is becoming more common in workers’ compensation. Pharmacy data shows an increase in GLP-1 dispensing to injured workers in recent years, along with an increase in associated drug spending. With some GLP-1 medications costing as much as $1,500 per month, the financial impact can be significant when these medications are part of a claim.

For claims professionals, there are a few important takeaways:

• Don’t assume a GLP-1 prescription means a shorter or less expensive claim. Current research doesn’t support that conclusion, and the employees taking these medications in the study had higher medical costs and more absence days.
• Look at the health conditions behind the prescription. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other comorbidities may play a significant role in both treatment needs and claim costs. The medication itself is only one piece of the picture.
• Keep the timing of the research in mind. The study followed employees for just one year. If GLP-1s eventually lead to lower costs through sustained weight loss, those benefits may take longer to appear.
• Expect the picture to evolve. Indiana University’s Fairbanks School of Public Health launched a five-year study with Eli Lilly and Company in January 2026 to examine how GLP-1 use affects missed work, lost productivity, absenteeism, and disability claims. As more research becomes available, claims professionals should have a clearer picture of what these medications mean for costs and recovery.

Final Thoughts

GLP-1 medications are becoming a bigger part of the workers’ compensation landscape, but the data is not yet clear enough to say what they ultimately mean for claim costs or recovery.

For claims professionals, the takeaway is simple: a GLP-1 prescription is a data point, not a prediction of how a claim will develop. As prescribing continues to grow and more long-term research becomes available, understanding the full health picture will be key to putting these medications and their impact on a claim in the right context.

Want a clearer picture of what’s driving a claim? Our team can help.

Sources:

• Page, M. (2024). Ask The Pharmacist: GLP-1 Drugs in Workers’ Compensation. Enlyte.
• Good, C. B., et al. (2026). Medication Use for Patients With Obesity: Trends and Characteristics for US Employees. The American Journal of Managed Care, 32(4), 238–244.
• Kenney, K. (2026). IU and Eli Lilly Team Up to Study Impact of GLP-1 Drugs in Workplace. Indiana University.