Applies to Employer plans.
Covered (preferred drug)Qualification pathways
You can qualify through any one of these.
Continuation of therapy (Ozempic as preferred)
All of:
- Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (medical record documentation required)
- Ozempic is eligible for continuation of therapy
- Patient will NOT use requested agent in combination with a DPP-4 containing agent
- Patient will NOT use requested agent in combination with another GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Patient does NOT have any FDA labeled contraindications to the requested agent
- Request is NOT for weight loss (weight loss is a benefit exclusion)
Plus any one of:
- Patient has been treated with a preferred agent within the past 90 days (starting on samples is not approvable)
- Prescriber states patient has been treated with a preferred agent within the past 90 days and patient is at risk if therapy with a preferred agent is discontinued
New/initial therapy as preferred agent
All of:
- Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (medical record documentation required)
- Requested agent is a preferred agent (Ozempic qualifies)
- Patient's age is within FDA labeling for the requested indication OR there is support for using the requested agent for the patient's age
- Patient will NOT use requested agent in combination with a DPP-4 containing agent
- Patient will NOT use requested agent in combination with another GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Patient does NOT have any FDA labeled contraindications to the requested agent
- Request is NOT for weight loss (weight loss is a benefit exclusion)
Documentation to bring
- Medical record documentation of type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis
- If continuation: documentation of prior preferred agent use within past 90 days (paid claim from another health plan within past 90 days is acceptable alternative to step therapy requirement)
- If non-preferred step therapy applies to another agent: medical record documentation of intolerance/contraindication to preferred agents
- Documentation that patient will not be using agent in combination with a DPP-4 inhibitor
- Documentation that patient will not be using agent in combination with another GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Confirmation that request is not for weight loss
Quantity limits
- 2 mg/3 mL, 4 mg/3 mL, 8 mg/3 mL — 1 pen
Approval and renewal
- Initial approval: 12 months
- Renewal: every 12 months
- Renewal: Eligible for continuation if patient has been treated with a preferred agent (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Trulicity, Mounjaro, or Bydureon BCise) within the past 90 days and prescriber confirms treatment or states patient is at risk if preferred agent is discontinued. Starting on samples is not approvable.
Not covered when
- Combination with DPP-4 inhibitors not permitted
- Combination with another GLP-1 receptor agonist not permitted
- FDA labeled contraindications apply
- Starting on samples is not approvable for continuation pathway
- Weight loss use is a benefit exclusion
- Fill limit: one GLP-1 agent and one strength per 28 days
Policy note: Ozempic (injection) is listed as a preferred agent for T2DM. Ozempic is FDA-approved for T2DM, CV risk reduction in T2DM with established CVD, and CKD risk reduction in T2DM with CKD; however, this policy addresses only T2DM PA criteria generically — no separate CV or CKD criteria are defined. Ozempic tablets (semaglutide oral) share the same PA criteria as the injection formulation. Step therapy requirement may not apply if the requested medication was previously approved by another health plan and documentation of a paid claim within the past 90 days is submitted.
Policy effective May 11, 2026 · verified June 5, 2026 · source: Fl GLP-1 Paql Prog Sum · View policy document (PDF)