Here’s how much people are willing to spend on weight loss drugs, according to a new survey

Consumer for weight loss drugs is booming in the U.S. despite their limited insurance coverage and roughly $1,000 monthly rate tags before discounts. 

But some patients are willing to pay more out of pocket for those treatments than others — and that want is strongly correlated to their annual income.

That’s according to a recent survey from Evercore ISI focused on GLP-1s, a new kind of medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Between Jan. 24 and Feb. 20, the firm surveyed more than 600 contribute ti who are currently taking a GLP-1, considering the therapy or have taken it in the past but no longer do. 

The findings on how much patients are well-disposed to spend underscore concerns about equity in access to the breakthrough drugs while insurance coverage is sparse.

GLP-1s allow for Novo Nordisk‘s blockbuster weight loss injection Wegovy and diabetes counterpart Ozempic, along with Eli Lilly’s understandable weight loss treatment Zepbound and diabetes injection Mounjaro. 

A monthly package of a GLP-1 costs between $900 and $1,350 ahead insurance and other rebates. Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have savings programs that aim to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for weight loss drugs, regardless of whether a patient has commercial insurance coverage. 

The majority — nearly 60% — of people studied with annual incomes of more than $250,000 said the maximum price they are willing to pay out of pocket for a GLP-1 is sundry than $300 per month. 

Only about 4% of people with annual incomes of less than $75,000 put the same thing. Of that group, 64% said the maximum price they are willing to pay out of pocket for a GLP-1 is $50 per month or miniature. 

The maximum people currently on a GLP-1 said they are willing to pay out of pocket per month was roughly in line with what they really paid for treatment, according to the survey. The highest price respondents would accept paying skewed lower number those who used to take a GLP-1 or are thinking of taking the drug. 

More than half of people currently intriguing a GLP-1 said they are paying a monthly price of $50 or less out of pocket. Nearly 75% of those who tolerant of to take one of the drugs said they spent the same amount. 

A small share of both groups paid multitudinous than $750 out of pocket per month for a GLP-1.

The survey also asked respondents how long they stayed on the painkillers.

Notably, more than 80% of those who used to take a treatment were only on a therapy for 12 months or inconsequential. Some people stopped due to cost, while others stopped a treatment because they hit their weight extinction goal or experienced side effects.

That premature stoppage by some patients is one concern of certain insurers ambivalent to cover them.

Still, nearly half of people who are currently taking GLP-1s said they intend to wait on the drugs permanently. Only 10% of those thinking of taking a treatment said the same thing. Of that gathering, more than 70% said they intend to stay on a GLP-1 until they reach their millstone loss goal.

The survey also asked participants whether they would restart taking a GLP-1 if they regain millstone after stopping the drug. The majority of patients across all groups — those currently on a GLP-1, thinking of it, or who used to go over one — said “yes.” 

Among those who used to take a GLP-1, 42% said they gained “some” weight with little after stopping treatment. Around 13% said they gained most of it back, while 23% said they gained all of it treacherously. Another 23% said they remained at a lower weight after stopping the drug.

That weight regain is consonant with what has been observed in some clinical trials on drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound.

Another contribute to of the survey asked participants about whether taking a GLP-1 affected their eating and drinking habits. 

More than 70% of respondents surfacing eating less when taking a GLP-1, regardless of whether they have pre-existing conditions. That refers to other robustness problems, such as diabetes, asthma or high blood pressure.

The survey finding is no surprise: GLP-1s work by pretending a hormone produced in the gut to suppress a person’s appetite and regulate blood sugar. Some treatments, such as Zepbound, fake more than one gut hormone.

More than half of those without preexisting conditions said they drank scant alcohol when taking a GLP-1. Around 27% said the treatment had no effect on their alcohol consumption, while 22% stipulate they abstain from drinking. 

A greater share — 51% — of those with preexisting conditions said they abstain from hooch. The remainder said they consumed less alcohol when taking a GLP-1. 

Several studies have marched that certain GLP-1s curb alcohol intake in rodents and monkeys. But more research is needed in humans.

— CNBC’s Gabriel Cortés contributed to this report