GLP-1s, Choice, and the Future of Healthcare Access in America

Why empowering access to well rounded wellness programs is a smarter path to real wellness

The rise of GLP-1 medications—like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro)—has sparked a new chapter in the conversation about health, weight loss, and chronic disease prevention. Backed by studies showing not only substantial weight loss but also reductions in cardiovascular risk, these treatments are changing lives. According to a 2023 New England Journal of Medicine article, patients on GLP-1s experienced an average of 15% body weight reduction along with improved blood sugar levels and cardiovascular outcomes.

But despite the promising data, access to these medications is increasingly limited.

PBMs (pharmacy benefit managers) and insurance companies are pulling back coverage or providing deceptive pricing in conjunction with the Pharmas. Formularies are being restricted. Costs are skyrocketing. And the people who need care the most are being forced to navigate a system designed more for control than for compassion.

Let’s be clear: GLP-1s aren’t for everyone. They’re not a silver bullet. But we live in a country built on choice and competition, especially in healthcare. And yet, too many Americans find themselves cornered by monopolized pathways that limit access, stifle innovation, and reduce wellness to a spreadsheet formula.

That’s not how our system should work.

Even for those pursuing GLP-1s or other wellness medications, sustainable success depends on more than a prescription. Any medical program—especially one focused on long-term outcomes like weight loss—must be accompanied by a lifestyle rooted in habits and priorities. Real wellness is whole-person wellness. And that means building systems of support: nutrition, movement, stress management, and mindset.

That’s why I like what OrderlyMeds Corporate Wellness is all about. A zero-cost program for employers and Associations that brings healthcare choice back to individuals. They offer a personalized, guided experience that helps people navigate treatment options, including GLP-1s, while integrating behavioral support and habit-building tools. Their very near roadmap includes a personalized medicine approach that delivers even more flexibility and advantage. Take a look at their program here.

Your employees or members deserve more than one-size-fits-all plans controlled by invisible middlemen. They deserve access. They deserve agency. They deserve a system that works for them.

This is how healthcare should work in America.

OrderlyMeds #healthcarechoice