Your guide to planning HSA funds to cover GLP-1s

Key takeways

• A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged account you can use to pay for prescription medications like glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, but the GLP-1 must be prescribed for a diagnosed medical condition such as type 2 diabetes or obesity.
• You can add pretax money to your HSA (up to $4,400 for individuals or $8,750 for families in 2026), and your contributions earn tax-free interest and carry over from year to year, even if you change jobs or retire.
• To use HSA funds for GLP-1s, obtain a prescription from a healthcare professional, confirm it’s for a qualifying medical condition, check your insurance coverage, then pay with your HSA debit card or submit receipts for reimbursement.

Overview

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are tax-advantaged savings accounts that are used to cover medical expenses. If you have an HSA, it can be used to buy prescription medications — including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) like Wegovy and Ozempic.

Let’s take a look at HSAs and how you can use your funds to pay for GLP-1s.

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What exactly is an HSA?

An HSA is a type of savings account you can set up to pay for various medical expenses. You can add pretax money to your HSA. For example, if you earn $50,000 per year and put $2,500 in your HSA, you will be taxed as though you earned $47,500 instead.

Plus, your HSA deposits can earn tax-free interest, and your HSA contributions can carry over from year to year, even if you retire or change jobs.

HSAs are only available to you if you have a high deductible health plan (HDHP), which is a type of plan where you need to pay a high amount out of pocket before your insurance will cover costs. The HSA is a way to save on some of your overall costs by saving, withdrawing, and growing your money without any tax penalties.

For 2026, the amount that you can contribute to an HSA is $4,400 for an individual and $8,750 for a family.

Did you know? One third of adults with HDHPs have not yet opened an HSA. Experts suggest that increased education about HSAs could help adults save more for their healthcare costs.

When should I use HSA funds?

The best times to use HSA funds include:

• if you haven’t met your deductible for the year yet
• if your copayment for the GLP-1 is very high
• if your insurance won’t cover GLP-1s
• if you’re paying out of pocket for medications

Learn more about what to do if insurance won’t cover GLP-1s.

Medical perspective

What are some benefits of using HSA funds for prescriptions?

“Using an HSA for prescriptions lets you buy medications using tax-free money, which saves you roughly 20% to 30%, depending on your tax bracket. In addition, the money never expires, even if you change jobs.”

— Kelly Wood, MD

Note: Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Can I use an HSA for GLP-1s?

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), HSAs can be used for GLP-1s. However, it’s important that the GLP-1 has been prescribed for a diagnosed medical condition, such as type 2 diabetes or obesity.

In some cases, using a GLP-1 for weight management may be considered a “cosmetic use”, so you would not be able to use HSA funds to pay for them. But if your doctor diagnoses you with a medical condition and provides a letter of medical necessity, you should be able to use these funds for your GLP-1.

It’s even possible to use HSA funds for a GLP-1 that’s prescribed for an off-label use, which is a use other than what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it for, like using Ozempic for weight management. As long as it’s prescribed for a diagnosed condition, HSA funds can be used.

HSA funds can also be used for doctor visits, consultations, and lab work related to GLP-1 treatment for qualifying medical conditions.

Planning HSA funds for GLP-1s

It’s important to plan in advance how you’re going to pay for your healthcare expenses, especially if you’re using an HSA. Here’s how to plan your HSA funds to cover GLP-1s:

• Estimate costs: Look into how much your GLP-1 is going to cost you each year. Your insurance coverage, copays, and deductibles can all affect your costs.
• Plan your HSA contributions: The maximum yearly contribution for HSAs is $4,400 for 2026. Consider how much you’re comfortable saving in an HSA.
• Budget for GLP-1s: Decide how much of your HSA you’d like to designate to GLP-1s.

Learn more about costs and savings options for GLP-1s.

Online care for GLP-1s

If a doctor has prescribed a GLP-1, it’s important to take the medication as directed for as long as your doctor recommends. However, some people might face barriers to accessing GLP-1s, including high costs and access to healthcare appointments.

With Optum Perks Online Care, you can request a new weight loss prescription, get a refill, or get help with an existing prescription. There’s no monthly membership needed — all you’ll pay is $29 for the appointment plus the cost of the medication.

With this service, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your condition, and a licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after, without the need to make an in-person appointment.

Next steps

If you have an HDHP, it may be a good idea to consider opening an HSA. If you have an HSA and would like to use it for GLP-1 treatment, here are the steps to follow:

1. Obtain a prescription from your healthcare professional.
2. Confirm the GLP-1 is for a qualifying medical condition.
3. Check your insurance coverage and formulary.
4. Calculate out-of-pocket costs.
5. Use your HSA debit card or pay with your regular card and submit the receipt for reimbursement.
6. Keep all receipts and documentation for your records.

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