Aon Study Shows GLP-1 Adherence Cuts Employer Medical Costs Six Points, Improves Women’s Cancer, Cardiovascular Outcomes
Aon’s 192,000-patient GLP-1 study found diabetes medical cost growth six percentage points lower at 30 months and nine points lower with ≥80% adherence. Female users saw 47% fewer cardiovascular hospitalizations, roughly 50% lower ovarian cancer and 14% lower breast cancer incidence versus non-users.
1. Updated Multi-Year GLP-1 Study Scope and Methodology
Aon’s latest analysis draws on medical and pharmacy claims from over 50 million commercial lives, including a cohort of 192,000 GLP-1 users tracked between July 2022 and March 2025. Leveraging proprietary tools—Cost Efficiency Measurement and Health Risk Analyzer—the firm evaluated longitudinal cost and outcome trends across diabetes and weight-loss indications. This represents a significant expansion of Aon’s April 2025 research, providing robustness through a three-year follow-up and stringent matching of users to non-users on demographics and baseline health risk.
2. Employer Cost Savings from GLP-1 Adherence
The study finds that consistent adherence to GLP-1 therapies correlates with material reductions in medical cost growth for employers. Diabetes patients with at least 80% adherence experienced nine percentage points lower cost growth at 30 months compared to non-users, while weight-loss users with high adherence saw seven percentage points lower growth at 18 months. Even moderate adherence cohorts posted cost growth reductions of six and three percentage points, respectively, underscoring the value of supporting sustained therapy use in workforce health programs.
3. Significant Clinical Benefits for Female Employees
Female GLP-1 users saw a 47% reduction in hospitalizations for major adverse cardiovascular events versus matched non-users, and roughly 50% lower ovarian cancer incidence alongside a 14% drop in breast cancer diagnoses over the study period. Additional clinical benefits included lower rates of osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and fewer hospitalizations for substance-abuse issues, bariatric procedures and pancreatic disorders. These findings highlight a disproportionately strong benefit profile for women in industries with high female participation.
4. Implications for Employers and U.S. Healthcare Cost Trends
Aon projects U.S. health costs will rise by 9.5% in 2026, with prescription drugs accounting for roughly 30% of total spend and GLP-1 therapies making up 20% of drug costs after a 50% utilization-driven increase in 2025. By integrating GLP-1 coverage with adherence-focused programs, employers can counterbalance drug cost inflation while improving population health. Aon will present these insights at the 2026 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, emphasizing how evidence-based benefit design can align clinical outcomes with long-term cost management.