Aon Unveils First Workforce-Focused Analysis on GLP-1s: Medications and Holistic Support Can Transform Workforce Health and Bend the Cost Curve
Aon has released groundbreaking research on GLP-1 medications and their impact on workforce health, analyzing data from over 50 million commercially insured lives. The study reveals significant cost savings and health improvements when GLP-1s are combined with holistic support programs.
Key findings show that after initial treatment costs, GLP-1 users experienced cost growth rates at half that of the control group. Users saw a 44% reduction in cardiovascular hospitalization risks and improvements in various health conditions over 24 months. The analysis indicates that GLP-1s, paired with wellness programs, can reduce long-term healthcare costs and boost workforce productivity.
In response to these findings, Aon has launched its own subsidized GLP-1 weight management program for U.S. employees in partnership with eMed, offering holistic support including AI-powered biometric tracking and virtual check-ins. This initiative addresses obesity, which affects 40% of U.S. adults and costs the economy up to $1.72 trillion annually.
Aon ha pubblicato una ricerca innovativa sui farmaci GLP-1 e il loro impatto sulla salute della forza lavoro, analizzando dati provenienti da oltre 50 milioni di persone con assicurazione sanitaria commerciale. Lo studio evidenzia risparmi significativi sui costi e miglioramenti nella salute quando i GLP-1 sono combinati con programmi di supporto olistici.
I risultati principali mostrano che, dopo i costi iniziali del trattamento, gli utenti di GLP-1 hanno registrato tassi di crescita dei costi pari alla metà rispetto al gruppo di controllo. Gli utenti hanno osservato una riduzione del 44% del rischio di ospedalizzazione per malattie cardiovascolari e miglioramenti in diverse condizioni di salute nell’arco di 24 mesi. L’analisi indica che i GLP-1, associati a programmi di benessere, possono ridurre i costi sanitari a lungo termine e aumentare la produttività della forza lavoro.
In risposta a questi risultati, Aon ha lanciato un proprio programma sovvenzionato di gestione del peso con GLP-1 per i dipendenti statunitensi, in collaborazione con eMed, offrendo un supporto olistico che include monitoraggio biometrico basato su intelligenza artificiale e check-in virtuali. Questa iniziativa affronta il problema dell’obesità, che colpisce il 40% degli adulti negli Stati Uniti e costa all’economia fino a 1,72 trilioni di dollari all’anno.
Aon ha publicado una investigación innovadora sobre los medicamentos GLP-1 y su impacto en la salud laboral, analizando datos de más de 50 millones de personas con seguro comercial. El estudio revela ahorros significativos en costos y mejoras en la salud cuando los GLP-1 se combinan con programas de apoyo integrales.
Los hallazgos clave muestran que, tras los costos iniciales del tratamiento, los usuarios de GLP-1 experimentaron tasas de crecimiento de costos a la mitad que el grupo de control. Los usuarios vieron una reducción del 44% en los riesgos de hospitalización cardiovascular y mejoras en diversas condiciones de salud durante 24 meses. El análisis indica que los GLP-1, junto con programas de bienestar, pueden reducir los costos de atención médica a largo plazo y aumentar la productividad laboral.
En respuesta a estos hallazgos, Aon ha lanzado su propio programa subsidiado de manejo de peso con GLP-1 para empleados en EE. UU., en asociación con eMed, ofreciendo apoyo integral que incluye seguimiento biométrico potenciado por IA y chequeos virtuales. Esta iniciativa aborda la obesidad, que afecta al 40 % de los adultos en EE. UU. y cuesta a la economía hasta 1,72 billones de dólares anuales.
Aon은 5천만 명 이상의 상업 보험 가입자 데이터를 분석하여 GLP-1 약물과 노동력 건강에 미치는 영향에 관한 획기적인 연구를 발표했습니다. 연구 결과, GLP-1 약물을 전인적 지원 프로그램과 결합할 때 비용 절감과 건강 개선이 크게 나타났습니다.
주요 결과에 따르면 초기 치료 비용 이후 GLP-1 사용자들은 대조군에 비해 비용 증가율이 절반에 불과했습니다. 사용자들은 24개월 동안 심혈관계 입원 위험이 44% 감소하고 다양한 건강 상태가 개선되는 것을 경험했습니다. 분석 결과 GLP-1과 웰니스 프로그램의 병행이 장기 의료비 절감과 노동력 생산성 향상에 기여할 수 있음을 보여줍니다.
이러한 결과에 대응하여 Aon은 eMed와 협력하여 미국 직원들을 위한 보조금 지원 GLP-1 체중 관리 프로그램을 시작했으며, AI 기반 생체 측정 추적과 가상 체크인을 포함한 전인적 지원을 제공합니다. 이 이니셔티브는 미국 성인 40%가 겪고 연간 최대 1.72조 달러의 경제적 비용을 초래하는 비만 문제를 해결합니다.
Aon a publié une recherche révolutionnaire sur les médicaments GLP-1 et leur impact sur la santé des travailleurs, en analysant les données de plus de 50 millions de personnes assurées commercialement. L'étude révèle des économies significatives et des améliorations de santé lorsque les GLP-1 sont associés à des programmes de soutien holistiques.
Les résultats clés montrent qu'après les coûts initiaux du traitement, les utilisateurs de GLP-1 ont connu des taux de croissance des coûts deux fois moins élevés que le groupe témoin. Les utilisateurs ont observé une réduction de 44% des risques d'hospitalisation cardiovasculaire et des améliorations dans diverses conditions de santé sur 24 mois. L'analyse indique que les GLP-1, combinés à des programmes de bien-être, peuvent réduire les coûts de santé à long terme et augmenter la productivité des travailleurs.
En réponse à ces résultats, Aon a lancé son propre programme subventionné de gestion du poids avec GLP-1 pour les employés américains en partenariat avec eMed, offrant un soutien holistique incluant un suivi biométrique alimenté par l'IA et des bilans virtuels. Cette initiative vise à lutter contre l'obésité, qui touche 40 % des adultes américains et coûte jusqu'à 1,72 billion de dollars par an à l'économie.
Aon hat bahnbrechende Forschungsergebnisse zu GLP-1-Medikamenten und deren Einfluss auf die Gesundheit der Belegschaft veröffentlicht, basierend auf Daten von über 50 Millionen kommerziell Versicherten. Die Studie zeigt erhebliche Kosteneinsparungen und Gesundheitsverbesserungen, wenn GLP-1 mit ganzheitlichen Unterstützungsprogrammen kombiniert wird.
Wesentliche Erkenntnisse zeigen, dass nach den anfänglichen Behandlungskosten die Kostenwachstumsraten bei GLP-1-Nutzern halb so hoch waren wie bei der Kontrollgruppe. Nutzer verzeichneten eine 44%ige Reduktion des Risikos für kardiovaskuläre Krankenhausaufenthalte und Verbesserungen verschiedener Gesundheitszustände über 24 Monate. Die Analyse deutet darauf hin, dass GLP-1 in Kombination mit Wellness-Programmen langfristige Gesundheitskosten senken und die Produktivität der Belegschaft steigern kann.
Als Reaktion auf diese Ergebnisse hat Aon in Zusammenarbeit mit eMed ein eigenes subventioniertes GLP-1-Gewichtsmanagementprogramm für US-Mitarbeiter gestartet, das ganzheitliche Unterstützung einschließlich KI-gestützter biometrischer Überwachung und virtueller Check-ins bietet. Diese Initiative adressiert das Problem der Adipositas, die 40 % der US-Erwachsenen betrifft und der Wirtschaft jährlich Kosten von bis zu 1,72 Billionen US-Dollar verursacht.
- Study of 50M+ commercial health claims reveals GLP-1 medications cut healthcare cost growth rates by half
- 7% improvement in medical spend growth for GLP-1 users in second year
- 44% reduction in cardiovascular hospitalization risk over 24 months for GLP-1 users
- Company leverages proprietary Health Risk Analyzer tool for data analysis, showing technology leadership
- New revenue opportunity through consulting services for GLP-1 workforce impact modeling
- Initial jump in costs related to GLP-1 medication implementation
- Elevated claims activity observed in arthritic conditions, thyroid disorders, and sleep-wake disorders
- Increased company expenses from subsidizing GLP-1 program for US workforce
Insights
Aon's GLP-1 study shows cost curve bending and 44% reduction in cardiovascular events, positioning them strategically in healthcare cost management.
Aon's multi-year study analyzing over 50 million commercially insured lives represents a significant data-driven validation of GLP-1 medications' impact on healthcare costs and outcomes. Their findings show that after initial cost increases, GLP-1 users' healthcare costs grew at half the rate of a matched control group, with a seven-percentage point improvement in medical spend growth during the second year.
The 44% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular event hospitalizations is particularly noteworthy from a clinical perspective. This dramatic improvement in high-cost acute care utilization helps explain the economic benefits observed. The study also found reduced claims for pneumonia, inflammatory bowel disease, and substance use disorders, suggesting comprehensive health improvements beyond weight loss.
By implementing their own GLP-1 program with eMed, Aon is creating a real-world laboratory that combines medication access with holistic support services designed to enhance adherence. This comprehensive approach addresses the critical challenge with weight management medications – maintaining long-term engagement to realize sustainable health improvements and cost benefits.
The obesity epidemic costs the U.S. economy up to
Aon's initiative represents a strategic business opportunity leveraging their core analytics capabilities. By conducting this extensive claims analysis and implementing their own employee GLP-1 program, they're positioning themselves at the intersection of two valuable capabilities: data-driven health insights and innovative benefits design.
The company is effectively treating their workforce as a showcase model, allowing them to develop implementation expertise they can later monetize through consulting services. This creates a compelling "we've done it ourselves" narrative when advising clients about obesity management programs.
Their Health Risk Analyzer tool appears central to this strategy, enabling quantification of both direct medical cost reductions and broader workforce productivity benefits. This addresses a key barrier to GLP-1 adoption – the initial sticker shock employers experience when considering coverage.
The timing is strategically sound as employers nationwide grapple with coverage decisions for these medications. Aon's data showing cost curve improvements in the second year directly addresses the primary concern about short-term ROI. Their observation that medical costs for GLP-1 users grew at half the rate of the control group offers a powerful narrative about long-term value creation.
While the article doesn't provide specific revenue projections, this initiative aligns with Aon's broader strategy of leveraging data analytics to drive client value. By combining clinical insights, economic analysis, and practical implementation experience, Aon is creating a differentiated position in the rapidly evolving employer healthcare landscape.
Firm also sets new standard in employee health by combining GLP-1 medications and holistic support to drive adherence and sustainable outcomes for Aon's
Drawing on its deep investments in health data and analytics, Aon provides data-driven workforce insights that help employers reduce costs, maximize productivity and improve employee health. For this analysis, Aon leveraged its Health Risk Analyzer to quantify the opportunity and impact of GLP-1 medications.
As part of its commitment to advancing workforce wellbeing, Aon also announced the launch of its own GLP-1 weight management program for
"Obesity is an escalating global epidemic, impacting nearly 40 percent of
Case continued, "Our analysis shows that GLP-1 medications, when paired with a holistic adherence program, represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to prevent and manage chronic disease, improve quality of life and bend the healthcare cost curve. At Aon, we're already acting on these insights with our own GLP-1 weight management program to shape a smarter, more sustainable approach to workforce health. We invite others to join us in delivering meaningful improvements in health outcomes and long-term economic value."
The Impact of GLP-1s: Health Improves, Cost Curve Bends
To help companies quantify the opportunity and impact of GLP-1 coverage, Aon leveraged a proprietary methodology and the firm's Health Risk Analyzer to evaluate an extensive dataset of medical and Rx claims data from over 50 million commercially insured lives, including 139,000 prescribed GLP-1 users from 2022-2024. Aon's early analysis reveals:
- A Bend in the Cost Curve: After the widely reported initial jump in costs related to initiation of GLP-1 medications, cost growth rates diverge from the GLP-1 treatment group, trending at half the rate of a precisely matched control group in the last 12 months of the analysis period. Outside the cost of the treatment, Aon observed a seven-percentage point improvement in medical spend growth for GLP-1 users in the second year. If this trend improvement is sustained over future periods, it implies significant positive impacts on population health and economic impacts extending beyond healthcare costs to reductions in absenteeism and disability and improved productivity.
- Reduced Cardiovascular Events and Improved Health: GLP-1 users experienced a 44 percent reduction in risk of hospitalizations caused by major adverse cardiovascular events (e.g., stroke, heart attack and heart failure) over the 24 months following therapy initiation. Other notable health improvements included lower incidence of claims for pneumonia, inflammatory bowel disease, osteoporosis, and alcohol and substance use disorders compared to a precisely matched control group. The analysis also showed GLP-1 users had elevated claims activity in certain arthritic conditions, thyroid and esophageal disorders, and sleep-wake disorders. Further research and analysis may show that by losing weight, patients accessed a broader spectrum of treatments, which translated to elevated utilization of services.
"When you consider the indirect costs of obesity, such as the treatment of comorbidities and absenteeism, the overall economic burden is striking," said Farheen Dam, head of Health Solutions for
Aon will share the highlights of its health claims analysis at the Milken Institute Global Conference on May 5. The plenary session, "In Service of a Healthier Tomorrow," will examine how prevention, data, biomedical research, health financing and cross-sector partnerships can drive better health outcomes and capture economic value at scale.
"Aon's analysis underscores the critical role that innovative, data-driven approaches can play in tackling one of the most pressing health challenges of our time," said Esther Krofah, executive vice president, Milken Institute Health. "By quantifying both the health and economic benefits of GLP-1 access, this work not only advances the dialogue around obesity management in the
Aon Leading by Example: De-Stigmatizing and Subsidizing GLP-1s for Aon's
As part of its leadership in employee wellbeing, Aon has launched a subsidized GLP-1 weight management benefit program for its
"Making this investment is essential to delivering value and achieving results," said Lisa Stevens, chief administrative officer of Aon. "We're proving that it's possible to offer access to GLP-1s affordably and with dignity — and that doing so can benefit both people and the bottom line."
The Road Ahead: Advancing Analytics to Support Better Decisions
Aon works with employers in modeling the long-term business impact of GLP-1 adoption by providing customized claims analysis and global workforce impact modeling and planning. Aon emphasizes a comprehensive data-backed and human capital-focused approach to capture the transformative effects on health and productivity. This empowers employers to consider the full value of obesity management and make better decisions. By working with forward-thinking organizations, Aon aims to revolutionize chronic condition prevention and redefine workforce health investment, setting a new benchmark for the industry.
For more about Aon's Health Solutions visit: Health and Benefits | Aon
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that protect and grow their businesses.
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