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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/feb/12/uk-health-insurer-vitality-to-offer-members-discounted-anti-obesity-drugs
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| Health insurer Vitality is first to offer UK members weight-loss jabs | Health insurer Vitality is first to offer UK members weight-loss jabs |
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| Company will give up to 20% off treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro through private cover | Company will give up to 20% off treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro through private cover |
| Vitality has become the first health insurer in the UK to offer customers discounted weight loss treatments for up to a year through its health cover. | Vitality has become the first health insurer in the UK to offer customers discounted weight loss treatments for up to a year through its health cover. |
| The UK’s third-largest health insurer behind Bupa and Axa, with 1.9 million members, said it would offer discounts of up to 20% for medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro – which are popular but pricey – to members, based on their body mass index (BMI) and weight-related health conditions. | The UK’s third-largest health insurer behind Bupa and Axa, with 1.9 million members, said it would offer discounts of up to 20% for medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro – which are popular but pricey – to members, based on their body mass index (BMI) and weight-related health conditions. |
| Members can apply by completing their health profile through the Vitality app. If members have a BMI of 35 or over, they can apply for the new medication pathway, which includes coaching with a dietitian, through Second Nature, and discounted anti-obesity medications for up to 12 months based on their health risks. | |
| The market is booming amid a new wave of anti-obesity drugs, called GLP-1s after the gut hormone that they mimic to suppress appetite. Injected by users once a week, they are effective in helping people lose weight and have also shown other health benefits in studies, such as reducing the risk of heart attacks and kidney disease. | The market is booming amid a new wave of anti-obesity drugs, called GLP-1s after the gut hormone that they mimic to suppress appetite. Injected by users once a week, they are effective in helping people lose weight and have also shown other health benefits in studies, such as reducing the risk of heart attacks and kidney disease. |
| However, they come with a high price tag. The price of Wegovy, made by Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, starts at £139 for a month’s supply in the UK at online pharmacy prices, going up to £269 for higher doses. Wegovy, approved for use by the NHS in 2023, has been shown to achieve up to a 15% reduction in body weight after one year. | However, they come with a high price tag. The price of Wegovy, made by Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, starts at £139 for a month’s supply in the UK at online pharmacy prices, going up to £269 for higher doses. Wegovy, approved for use by the NHS in 2023, has been shown to achieve up to a 15% reduction in body weight after one year. |
| Last year, Mounjaro, made by the US drug firm Eli Lilly, became the second obesity treatment to be approved for use on the NHS in the UK. It costs from £139 a month at online pharmacies, and showed weight loss of about 20% in clinical trials. At a maximum dose, the annual cost is about £1,435. | Last year, Mounjaro, made by the US drug firm Eli Lilly, became the second obesity treatment to be approved for use on the NHS in the UK. It costs from £139 a month at online pharmacies, and showed weight loss of about 20% in clinical trials. At a maximum dose, the annual cost is about £1,435. |
| The use of anti-obesity drugs aims to build on Vitality’s existing weight loss programme, which uses reward-based incentives to encourage customers to adopt a healthier lifestyle through better diet and more exercise, with nearly half (48%) of enrolled members reaching their targets of about 5% weight loss. This can lead to a lower insurance excess, as well as other rewards. | The use of anti-obesity drugs aims to build on Vitality’s existing weight loss programme, which uses reward-based incentives to encourage customers to adopt a healthier lifestyle through better diet and more exercise, with nearly half (48%) of enrolled members reaching their targets of about 5% weight loss. This can lead to a lower insurance excess, as well as other rewards. |
| Obesity alone is estimated to cost the NHS about £6.5bn a year and can lead to multiple health problems such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. | Obesity alone is estimated to cost the NHS about £6.5bn a year and can lead to multiple health problems such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. |
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| In the US, fewer than a fifth of large companies include coverage for weight loss drugs in their health insurance plans, according to a survey published in Health Affairs in October. | In the US, fewer than a fifth of large companies include coverage for weight loss drugs in their health insurance plans, according to a survey published in Health Affairs in October. |
| Dr Katie Tryon, chief commercial director at Vitality, which is part of the South African insurance group Discovery Limited, said: “While some risk factors are reducing in the workplace, like smoking and alcohol … the ones that are coming out as ever increasing are the number of people living with obesity as well as mental health and MSK [musculoskeletal] issues.” | Dr Katie Tryon, chief commercial director at Vitality, which is part of the South African insurance group Discovery Limited, said: “While some risk factors are reducing in the workplace, like smoking and alcohol … the ones that are coming out as ever increasing are the number of people living with obesity as well as mental health and MSK [musculoskeletal] issues.” |