Wegovy, Zepbound Just Got Cheaper: Cigna Sets $200 Monthly Limit For Weight-Loss Drug Users

Cigna's pharmacy benefits company, Evernorth, reached pricing deals with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to reduce expenses and provide wider employer access to GLP-1 weight-loss treatments Wegovy and Zepbound.

According to a CNBC report, a new program launching in the second half of 2025 will establish a monthly out-of-pocket limit of $200 for employees while introducing streamlined pre-authorization procedures.

Cigna shares fell 2.43% to close at $317.09 on Wednesday, slipping another 0.33% to $316.05 in after-hours trading.

Evernorth expects current drug-covering employers to experience a maximum 20% cost reduction. 

At the same time, the initiative aims to motivate those who avoided the drugs because of their high prices to adopt them.

The report said industry estimates show that after applying discounts of 30% to 50% off list prices, net drug prices fall to an average monthly range of $616 to $725.

The initiative comes as regulatory scrutiny intensifies around Cigna and its health insurance peers. 

CMS said it will increase audits of Medicare Advantage plans, focusing on recovering uncollected overpayments through collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General. 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will start annual audits for all eligible contracts while boosting resources to clear backlogs from 2018 to 2024.

Health insurer Cigna shares ended Tuesday at $317.09, having fallen 2.43% due to a widespread selloff that followed the CMS announcement. 

Stock prices for UnitedHealth, Humana, CVS Health, and Elevance Health dropped between 2% and 4.2% during trading hours.

Meanwhile, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk shares are down 6.8% and 22.1%, respectively, so far this year, while Cigna has risen 15.5% year-to-date.

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