US patients who rely on GLP-1 obesity drugs such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound are increasingly paying out of pocket after a wave of employer health plans pared back coverage this year, doctors told Reuters. List prices for the weekly injections exceed $1,000 a month, but the manufacturers offer direct-shipping programs at $499 for cash buyers. Physicians say most users need to stay on the drugs to avoid regaining weight, yet many are stretching doses, exploring cheaper compounded versions or scrapping discretionary spending to meet annual bills that can top $6,000—the cost of one or two vacations for some families. An analysis of pharmacy claims showed nearly two-thirds of people who started the medicines in 2024 were still using them a year later. Specialists expect competition to ease prices as more products reach the market. Eli Lilly last week reported that an experimental oral GLP-1 pill reduced body weight by 12.4% in trials and could be ready for launch in August 2026. The World Health Organization estimates more than one billion people worldwide are obese, underscoring the commercial and public-health stakes.