Kentucky GLP-1 Affordability: 17.5 Hours of Work for One Month of Medication
A Kentucky worker earning the median wage must work 2.2 full days to afford one month of GLP-1 medication, ranking #7 of 51 nationally.
2026 analysis using BLS wage data and current manufacturer pricing | Updated February 2026
median wage
take-home pay
spent on 12 months of Rx
Kentucky has the 6th-highest obesity rate in America — and a minimum-wage worker can’t earn enough in a full-time month to afford a single prescription.
According to the 2026 GLP-1 Affordability Index, Kentucky workers earning median wages must spend 13.4% of their monthly take-home pay — equivalent to 17.5 hours of work — to afford one month of GLP-1 weight loss medication at the best available self-pay price ($349/mo), ranking the state #7 of 51 nationally.
A year of GLP-1 medication at the current self-pay price ($4,188) consumes 135.4% of what the average Kentucky resident saves annually — meaning Kentucky workers must sacrifice 1.35 years of personal savings for 12 months of treatment.
At Kentucky's minimum wage of $7.25/hour, affording Wegovy at list price requires 186.1 hours of work per month — exceeding the 160 hours in a standard full-time work month, making the medication mathematically unaffordable through labor alone.
| Metric | Self-Pay ($349/mo) | Wegovy List ($1,349/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $349 | $1,349 |
| Annual Cost | $4,188 | $16,188 |
| Hours at Median Wage ($19.98/hr) | 17.5 | 67.5 |
| Hours at Minimum Wage ($7.25/hr) | 48.1 | 186.1 |
| % of Monthly Take-Home Pay | 13.4% | 51.9% |
| Working Days per Month | 2.2 | 8.4 |
| Annual Cost as % of Savings | 135.4% | 523.2% |
| 160-Hour Wall (Min Wage) | No | Yes |
| State | Median Wage | Hours (Self-Pay) | Rank | Obesity Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $19.98 | 17.5 | #7 | 38.7% |
| Indiana | $21.07 | 16.6 | #14 | 36.1% |
| Ohio | $21.62 | 16.1 | #24 | 36.3% |
| West Virginia | $18.47 | 18.9 | #3 | 41.4% |
| Virginia | $25.15 | 13.9 | #41 | 32.3% |
Copy embed code
<img src="https://weightlossproviderguide.com/research/images/glp1-statcard-kentucky.webp" alt="Kentucky GLP-1 Affordability: 17.5 hours of work per month" width="1200" height="630"> <p>Source: <a href="https://weightlossproviderguide.com/research/glp1-affordability-index/kentucky/">GLP-1 Affordability Index</a>, 2026</p>
Methodology: How we calculated these numbers
This analysis uses publicly available federal data to measure how affordable GLP-1 weight loss medications are for workers in each U.S. state.
WAGE DATA: Median hourly wages are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 release. We use the “All Occupations” (SOC 00-0000) median hourly wage for each state. Minimum wages reflect state rates effective January 1, 2026, from the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division.
INCOME DATA: Median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates. Estimated annual savings calculated as median household income × 5.0%, assuming a 5% personal saving rate (illustrative estimate).
MEDICATION PRICING: Self-pay price of $349/month reflects Novo Nordisk self-pay cash pricing via NovoCare Pharmacy (terms apply; government beneficiaries excluded). Wegovy list price of $1,349/month reflects the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC). Both prices current as of February 2026.
NOTE: As of January 2026, an oral Wegovy pill is also available at $149–$299/mo via NovoCare Pharmacy. This analysis uses the Wegovy injectable self-pay price of $349/mo as the baseline.
HEALTH DATA: Adult obesity prevalence from the CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2024. Medicaid GLP-1 coverage status from KFF analysis as of January 2026.
CALCULATIONS:
- Hours of work = Monthly drug cost ÷ hourly wage
- % of take-home pay = Monthly drug cost ÷ (hourly wage × 173.33 hours/month × 0.75 tax adjustment) × 100
- 160-Hour Wall = Flagged when hours at minimum wage for list price exceeds 160 (standard full-time month)
- Double Bind = State has obesity rate ≥ 35% AND affordability rank in bottom half
- Savings Wipeout = Annual drug cost ÷ estimated annual savings × 100
LIMITATIONS: Take-home pay estimate uses a flat 25% deduction for taxes/FICA, which varies by state and individual circumstances. Savings estimates are approximations. Actual out-of-pocket costs vary based on insurance, employer coverage, and eligibility for manufacturer programs.
Full dataset available for download: CSV • Full methodology
Because Kentucky Medicaid does not cover GLP-1s for weight management, many residents are exploring regulated alternatives.
→ Read our 2026 guide: How Kentucky residents are accessing GLP-1 medications
“GLP-1 Affordability Index: Kentucky.” Weight Loss Provider Guide, 2026.
https://weightlossproviderguide.com/research/glp1-affordability-index/kentucky/