Weight-Loss Drug Cases Push to Recognize Obesity as Disability

A series of state and federal lawsuits challenging coverage exclusions for obesity drugs and procedures are testing the bounds of what qualifies as a “disability” under discrimination laws as more workers seek to access the expensive treatments.

Public school district employee Rebecca Holland sued Elevance Health, Inc. on Sept. 20 over the insurance company’s exclusion of obesity treatments under the Maine Education Association Benefits Trust Plan. The fully insured plan does not cover popular, pricey GLP-1 weight loss drugs, and limits bariatric surgery to individuals diagnosed with “severe obesity” after a five-year waiting period, according to the proposed class action ...