Weight-Loss Drugs Are Gobbling Up Small Town Budgets episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 29, 2026 · 19 MIN

Weight-Loss Drugs Are Gobbling Up Small Town Budgets

from The Journal. · host The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Many small towns across the country added GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to their employee health insurance plans. Now, some of those towns are being hit with huge unexpected premiums as use of the drugs continues to grow. Imani Moise speaks to a selectwoman from Belchertown, MA who helped navigate her town through a devastating bill and WSJ’s Owen Tucker-Smith takes us through the economics for towns around the country. Further Listening: - Trillion Dollar Shot - Novo Nordisk's CEO Has a Comeback Plan - Ozempic Is a Hit. So Why Is the Drugmaker’s CEO Out? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many small towns across the country added GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to their employee health insurance plans. Now, some of those towns are being hit with huge unexpected premiums as use of the drugs continues to grow. Imani Moise speaks to a selectwoman from Belchertown, MA who helped navigate her town through a devastating bill and WSJ’s Owen Tucker-Smith takes us through the economics for towns around the country. Further Listening: - Trillion Dollar Shot - Novo Nordisk's CEO Has a Comeback Plan - Ozempic Is a Hit. So Why Is the Drugmaker’s CEO Out? Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Weight-Loss Drugs Are Gobbling Up Small Town Budgets

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This episode was published on June 29, 2026.

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Many small towns across the country added GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to their employee health insurance plans. Now, some of those towns are being hit with huge unexpected premiums as use of the drugs continues to grow. Imani Moise speaks to a...

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