Does Your Med Spa Insurance Cover GLP-1 Treatments?

Insurance exclusions can be sneaky without the right advisor asking the right questions. This is particularly true when considering med spa insurance options for GLP-1 liability coverage.

Many med spa liability policies now say: “No coverage will be afforded for bodily injury, sickness, or disease resulting from the use of GLP-1 class medications.”

That means med spa insurance coverage for GLP-1 liability or reactions to Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or compounded semaglutide is not guaranteed in a standard policy.

Let’s break this down.

 

Policy Exclusions You Need to Know

As GLP-1 drugs appear in high-cost claims, carriers are tightening rules.

• More policies now contain blanket exclusions.
• Even malpractice policies may exclude weight-loss injectables.
• If a patient has pancreatitis or visits the hospital, your med spa could face the bill without defense.

 

Policies That Might Respond

Medical Malpractice Insurance:

Medical malpractice insurance applies when harm happens as a direct result of treatment. For med spas offering GLP-1 injectables, that means:

• A patient suffers pancreatitis after you prescribe or inject semaglutide.
• An injection is given incorrectly and causes nerve or tissue damage.
• A dosing error leads to severe dehydration or hospitalization.

In these cases, malpractice coverage is designed to defend you and pay settlements or judgments. It responds when the allegation is: “You hurt me while treating me.”

The catch? Many carriers now exclude GLP-1 medications entirely. That means even if the adverse reaction happened during treatment, you may have no defense or indemnity.

Professional Liability Insurance:

Professional liability insurance (sometimes called errors & omissions) is different. It applies when the mistake isn’t the injection itself but the professional judgment around it. For example:

• You fail to review the patient’s medical history and miss that they already have gallbladder issues.
• You don’t warn them of side effects like nausea or dizziness before starting injections.
• You don’t schedule proper follow-up, and their complications go untreated.

Here, the claim is not “You hurt me with the needle,” but rather, “You failed to advise me correctly or monitor my care.” Professional liability responds to those errors in judgment. Again, the problem is that many carriers add blanket exclusions for GLP-1s in professional liability policies too. So even if the issue is a missed history or poor follow-up, you may not have coverage.

 

 

Why Exclusions Are Growing

It’s simple: Carriers see high claim severity and unsettled science around GLP-1s.

Applications now often say…

“This policy excludes coverage for weight loss drugs, including semaglutide, tirzepatide, and other GLP-1 receptor agonists.”

So without specialty coverage, your med spa could be left exposed.

 

How Med Spas Can Protect Themselves

 

Work with a broker who understands med spa exposures.

Not every insurance agent understands the risks that come with injectables, compounded medications, and elective treatments. A broker with experience in the med spa space knows which carriers are tightening exclusions and which ones are still willing to negotiate coverage. Choosing the right broker can be the difference between a policy that silently excludes your biggest revenue stream and one that actually protects it.

 

Ask directly: “Does this policy cover GLP-1 administration and reactions?”

Never assume coverage. Policies often use vague language that sounds broad but hides exclusions deep in the fine print. By asking this question directly, you force the carrier to be clear. If the answer is no, at least you know up front and can plan for alternatives.

 

Seek specialty carriers with high-risk appetite.

Most standard med spa packages will exclude GLP-1 treatments. However, some specialty carriers are open to underwriting higher-risk services — but usually at higher premiums and with tighter guidelines. Working with these carriers may cost more, but the added protection could save your business in a claim. Examples include:

• CFC Specialty
• Hudson Insurance Group
• MedPro Group
• Kinsale Insurance
• Beazley
• Ironshore
• Great American
• AIG
• Travelers
  

Use strong consent forms.

Require patients to acknowledge risks upfront. Even with coverage in place, defense is stronger when patients sign clear consent forms. These forms should list possible side effects like nausea, dehydration, or pancreatitis, and they should also state that insurance may not cover related complications. A well-drafted consent form won’t replace coverage, but it gives your defense team leverage if a claim arises.

Confirm scope of practice.

Ensure only licensed providers (NP, PA, MD) administer injections. Coverage only applies if the person administering injections is acting within their license. That means an NP, PA, or MD must be the one prescribing and injecting GLP-1s. If a spa allows unlicensed staff to give injections, any claim could be denied outright. Afterwards, the spa may be left to pay for defense and damages on their own. Confirming scope of practice is one of the simplest yet most overlooked ways to protect your business.

 

The Workers’ Comp Connection

The latest curveball? Employees are now asking for Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs to be covered as part of their recovery plans in workers comp claims. Doctors argue these medications can speed up healing by managing obesity and related underlying conditions, while insurers worry about the high costs. Read more here.

Why this matters for med spas:

Regulators are putting GLP-1 drugs under a microscope.
That scrutiny trickles down to elective providers like med spas.
If Ozempic starts showing up in costly claims, insurers may tighten exclusions even more for med spas.

 

Where the Overlap with Workers Comp Risk Lies

It’s rare for a patient to double-dose from two providers. But bigger risks exist:

Discovery dragnet

This is when attorneys cast a very wide net, naming every possible provider, business, or individual who touched the patient’s care — even if their role was minor or unrelated. 

If an adverse event occurs, lawyers may name all providers. For med spas, that means if a patient has an adverse reaction to a GLP-1 drug and later files a claim, your spa could be pulled into the case simply because you prescribed or administered the drug at some point. You may not be found liable, but you’ll still have to provide records, hire legal counsel, and respond in court, which all costs money.

 

History questions

Insurers may ask: “Were they on Ozempic provided by a medspa before the injury?”
If yes, and it came from your spa, you could be pulled into legal question.

 

Even if liability is unlikely, being named in discovery is costly without proper coverage. Lawsuits don’t only cost money when you lose — they cost money the second your name appears on the paperwork. You still need attorneys to respond to subpoenas, provide records, and represent your interests. Legal defense bills can reach tens of thousands of dollars before a judge even decides if you belong in the case. Without insurance stepping in, those bills come out of your pocket, even if you’re ultimately cleared of any fault.

 

What Med Spas Should Do Now

• Review policies carefully.
• Add coverage or obtain waivers if exclusions apply.
• Communicate risks clearly to clients in consent forms.
• Stay current on workers comp and employer health plan coverage changes.
• Position your services as clinical value, not just weight loss.

 

Bottom Line: TLDR

The policy that should cover GLP-1 reactions is Medical Professional Liability.

But unless you specifically negotiate for it, coverage is probably excluded.

Some specialty carriers will consider GLP-1s under professional liability coverage— but only with strong underwriting and increased premiums.

 

Let’s talk

If you own a med spa and offer GLP-1s (or plan to), let’s connect. I help business owners spot hidden exclusions and secure the right protection.

LinkedIn | megan@mcsheainsurance.com | Instagram @insurancegirlmeg

Let’s build a relationship that protects your business beyond the obvious. Because here’s the truth: GLP-1s aren’t the only treatment insurers quietly exclude. If you think you’re covered, but haven’t reviewed the fine print, you could be in for a surprise. I’ll help you uncover what’s missing before it costs you.