Boston Mayor Seeks to Limit City Employee Coverage for Weight Loss Drugs

Proposed changes aim to curb rising healthcare costs for GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 12:24pm

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Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is looking to limit coverage of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for city employees. Her administration has sent a letter to the city council stating that this change is due to rising health care costs, with the drugs costing the city $32 million currently and potentially $47 million next year. The proposal would require doctors to obtain prior authorization from insurance providers before prescribing certain weight loss medications, which city officials estimate could save between $8 million and $9 million annually.

Why it matters

The proposed changes highlight the growing cost burden of newer, more effective weight loss medications on municipal healthcare budgets. As these drugs become more widely prescribed, cities and employers are grappling with how to manage the financial impact while still providing access to treatments that can improve health outcomes.

The details

The Wu administration has asked unions to adjust their health plans so that doctors must obtain prior authorization from insurance providers before prescribing certain weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. City officials estimate this move would save between $8 million and $9 million annually for Boston's healthcare costs.

  • On March 16, 2026, the Wu administration sent a letter to the Boston City Council outlining the proposed changes.
  • The proposal now awaits approval from the City Council.

The players

Michelle Wu

The current mayor of Boston who is proposing to limit city employee coverage for certain weight loss medications.

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What they’re saying

“We must find ways to control rising healthcare costs while still providing access to important treatments for our employees.”

— Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston (boston25news.com)

What’s next

The proposal to limit city employee coverage for weight loss drugs now awaits approval from the Boston City Council.

The takeaway

As the costs of newer, more effective weight loss medications continue to rise, cities and employers are being forced to make difficult decisions about how to manage healthcare budgets while still providing access to treatments that can improve employee health outcomes.