The Journal. · Monday, June 29, 2026
The increasing use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is creating significant financial strain on small town budgets across the country. Belchertown, Massachusetts, faced an unexpected $900,000 increase in health insurance premiums due to these drugs, forcing difficult budget decisions.
“Which is a major fiscal event for a town our size.”
“And so when you start to see costs rising by $100,000, it's something that might not, you know, be too problematic for a big city, but for some of these towns, that can really change the calculus of what they are and are not able to afford.”
“I mean, what I really want to say is, Belchertown is not unique. Belchertown is just a, as I say, a wicked good example of, you know, what can happen to a small town.”