The short answer
Higher patient costs were associated with less consistent prescription coverage in a US insurance-record study. This was an association, not proof that cost caused every missed refill.
Who was studied?
Researchers followed 8,914 commercially insured adults with obesity and without type 2 diabetes who started semaglutide in 2021–2022.
Percentage points, not current prices
Original visual based on the study.
| Group or measure | Result |
|---|---|
| $76–$168 per 30 days | +3 points |
| Over $168 per 30 days | +9 points |
What did they find?
The study counted people as nonadherent when filled prescriptions covered less than 80% of a year’s days. That does not mean everyone permanently stopped treatment.
After accounting for measured differences between patients, those paying more than $168 per 30-day supply were approximately 9 percentage points more likely to meet that definition than those paying $0–$21. The $76–$168 group had an approximately 3-point difference.
Why it matters
Treatment access includes ongoing affordability. But these are historical insurance costs, not today’s prices or a universal affordability threshold. The records lacked income and detailed benefit-design information, and prescription fills do not prove doses were taken. Findings may differ for other insurance arrangements or medicines.
Sources
Shin and colleagues, JAMA Health Forum, 2026. Authors reported no conflicts of interest.