CVS will cover Lilly's Zepbound and Foundayo, expanding GLP-1 access

CVS Caremark said it will expand coverage of Eli Lilly’s obesity medicines on its commercial formularies, a move that could broaden access for millions of Americans through employer-sponsored health plans.

The pharmacy benefit manager said it will remove the new-to-market block on Lilly’s oral GLP-1 drug Foundayo effective June 1, 2026, where plans approve coverage. CVS also said it will restore coverage of Zepbound on its commercial formularies starting October 1, 2026, as an additional preferred option.

Lilly said the update means all three of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit managers now cover its obesity portfolio. Reuters also reported the change on the same day.

The announcement matters because PBM formulary placement can shape which drugs employers choose to cover and what patients pay at the pharmacy counter. The coverage changes do not guarantee automatic access for every member, since plans still decide whether to adopt the formularies.

The timing is staggered. Foundayo’s block removal takes effect first, while Zepbound’s return to CVS Caremark’s preferred commercial formulary is scheduled for later in the year.

For now, the main question is how many employer-sponsored plans will follow the CVS template and how quickly members will see changes in their benefits.