Deloitte cuts weight-loss GLP-1 coverage for U.S. staff as health benefit costs rise

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Deloitte GLP-1 benefit cuts

Highlights

Deloitte will end GLP-1 coverage for weight-loss use in U.S. medical plans from January 2027, increasing employee out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
2026 KFF survey shows average employee premiums for family health plans rose 9% to $7,471, with total premiums up to $28,303, as more employers restrict GLP-1 coverage.
Deloitte's Americas division posted 3.2% revenue growth for the year to May 31, 2026, down from 7.1% the previous year, amid broader benefit reductions.

Benefit changes take effect from January

As first reported by Business Insider, an internal benefits guide shows Deloitte will stop covering GLP-1 medications for weight-loss purposes through its U.S. medical plans from January. The document also says employees will face higher deductibles and higher out-of-pocket maximums under most health plans, increasing costs before and after insurance coverage begins.

Deloitte tells staff the changes reflect "the hard trade-offs of today's cost environment" and says "shared responsibility" is needed in areas where it is no longer sustainable for the firm to absorb costs alone. GLP-1 drugs will still be covered when prescribed for diabetes and other eligible medical conditions.

For employees seeking weight-loss support, Deloitte is offering access to eMed, a virtual lifestyle program that includes coaching and a $125 per-prescription employer contribution. The firm is also expanding some benefits, including stronger long-term disability protection and free annual eye exams through its company-paid discount vision program.

The benefits guide applies to Deloitte's "Core, Domain, and Enterprise professionals," covering most of its client-facing accountants, consultants, and technical specialists. Deloitte employs about 181,000 people in the U.S.

Employers face broader pressure on healthcare spending

Deloitte's changes align with a wider push by employers to control healthcare spending as demand and treatment costs increase. A 2026 KFF health benefits survey found workers on family plans pay an average of $7,471 a year in premiums, up 9% from 2025, while total family-plan premiums including employer contributions reach $28,303, about 5% higher than a year earlier.

GLP-1 drugs have become a major cost focus for insurers and employer plans as their use expands beyond diabetes treatment into obesity and related chronic conditions. Aon says GLP-1 use rose 75% in 2025, and 39% of employers planned to reduce or restrict GLP-1 coverage in 2026.

PwC and Starbucks are among employers that have already scaled back coverage for weight-loss use this year. Deloitte's latest benefits changes also follow earlier adjustments for some staff groups, including reductions or eliminations to parental leave, annual paid time off and IVF funding for certain internal-facing roles from January 1, 2027.

The benefit changes come as Deloitte's Americas division records its slowest regional growth globally in the financial year ended May 31, 2026. Revenue in the region rises 3.2%, down from 7.1% growth a year earlier.

Earlier, we reported on early-career job-hopping as research-backed driver of wage gains for young U.S. workers.

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