MEDVi vs Sesame Care: Which GLP-1 Program Actually Fits You in 2026?
By Weight Loss Provider Guide editorial team ·
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Affiliate disclosure: We earn a commission when readers enroll through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We use both providers’ affiliate programs, and our editorial position is based on verified facts — not commission rate.
The 30-Second Answer
MEDVi vs Sesame Care isn’t really one decision — it’s two.
Pick MEDVi if:
You’re paying cash and want a low, simple, all-in monthly price. MEDVi offers $179 for the first month and $299 for refills on compounded semaglutide injections, with the medication included.
Pick Sesame Care if:
You want FDA-approved brand-name medication like Wegovy, Zepbound, or Foundayo — or you’re a Costco member, or you want to use insurance. Sesame’s clinicians handle prior-auth paperwork that may drop copays to as low as $25/month.
There’s one regulatory detail about MEDVi most comparison pages won’t mention, and one cost trap on the brand-name side that catches people on dose increases. We cover both below.
At-a-Glance: MEDVi vs Sesame Care
MEDVi is a primarily cash-pay, compounded-led GLP-1 telehealth platform with all-in pricing. Sesame Care is a primarily FDA-approved, brand-name-led platform with a separate care subscription plus pharmacy-priced medication. They aren’t the same product. They serve different buyers.
| MEDVi | Sesame Care (Success by Sesame) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Cash-pay compounded path, one bundled price | Brand-name, Costco, insurance, labs, provider choice |
| Starting price | $179 first month (compounded semaglutide injection) | $59/month with annual subscription |
| Ongoing price | $299/month for refills | Subscription + medication priced separately |
| Medication included? | Yes for compounded paths | No — paid separately at pharmacy |
| Primary medication type | Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide | FDA-approved Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Foundayo, Saxenda |
| Insurance | Cash-pay only; HSA/FSA depends on your plan | Subscription is cash-pay; providers help with prior authorization paperwork for brand-name meds |
| Costco partnership | No | Yes — Wegovy/Ozempic injection $349/month for Costco members |
| Clinician choice | Assigned through OpenLoop network | You pick from clinician profiles |
| Cancellation rule | Cancel at least 72 hours before billing | Cancel at least 48 hours before renewal |
| Trustpilot (May 2026) | About 4.4 across ~13,000 reviews | About 4.5 across ~4,000 reviews |
| Notable regulatory | FDA warning letter Feb 20, 2026 (misbranding — promotional language) | None found in FDA's public warning-letter database during May 2026 verification |
Pick MEDVi If. Pick Sesame Care If.
Most “MEDVi vs Sesame” pages try to crown one winner. We won’t, because the right answer depends on five things: your medication preference (compounded versus FDA-approved), your insurance situation, your Costco membership, your budget structure, and how much regulatory clarity you need.
Pick MEDVi if any of these sound like you
- ✓You're paying cash and want one number per month — care and medication included
- ✓You like the simplicity of $179 first month and $299 refills
- ✓You're open to compounded medication — a patient-specific medication prepared by a state-licensed pharmacy when legal conditions are met (not FDA-approved as a finished drug)
- ✓You don't want to deal with insurance or a separate pharmacy invoice
- ✓You want fast onboarding and shipping
- ✓You specifically want a compounded oral GLP-1 tablet — Sesame doesn't offer one
Pick Sesame Care if any of these sound like you
- ✓You want FDA-approved brand-name medication — Wegovy, Zepbound, the Wegovy pill, or the new Foundayo pill; or Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Rybelsus prescribed off-label when clinically appropriate
- ✓You're a Costco member and want the discounted pharmacy price ($349/month for Wegovy or Ozempic injections, with a $199/month starter offer for the first two months)
- ✓You have insurance and want help getting prior authorization approved
- ✓You want labs covered as part of your subscription
- ✓You want to choose your own clinician instead of being assigned one
- ✓You want zero ambiguity about whether your medication is FDA-approved
Don’t pick MEDVi if
- ✗You're not comfortable with compounded medication
- ✗You want the most regulatorily-stable option
- ✗You need insurance billing
- ✗A 72-hour cancellation deadline feels too tight
Don’t pick Sesame Care if
- ✗You want one bundled price that includes medication
- ✗You're choosing strictly on the lowest cash-pay price for compounded semaglutide
- ✗You don't want to manage a subscription and a pharmacy bill separately
How Much Does MEDVi vs Sesame Care Actually Cost?
Quick answer:
MEDVi’s compounded semaglutide injection is $179 for the first month and $299/month for refills, medication included. Sesame’s care plan is $59/month with an annual subscription — medication separate. Brand-name medication through Sesame ranges from $149/month for the lowest doses of the Wegovy pill to $698/month for higher doses of Zepbound. Headline price doesn’t tell the full story.
MEDVi Pricing, Line by Line
Verified from home.medvi.org and glp.medvi.org, May 5, 2026.
| MEDVi Plan / Medication | Price | Available |
|---|---|---|
| Compounded semaglutide injection (headline product) | $179 first month, $299/month refills | ✅ |
| Compounded tirzepatide injection | $349/month | ✅ |
| Compounded oral semaglutide tablet | ~$249/month | ✅ |
| Compounded oral tirzepatide tablet | ~$279/month | ✅ |
| Branded Ozempic injection | $1,999/month (premium pricing) | ➕ |
| Branded Wegovy / Zepbound paths | Verify current pricing | ➕ |
| Lab work | Included when medically necessary (Quest Diagnostics) | ✅ |
| Shipping | Free | ✅ |
| Insurance accepted | No. HSA/FSA depends on your plan administrator. | ❌ |
MEDVi has historically offered multi-month plans with deeper discounts. Verify current options at checkout — those terms can move.
Sesame Care Pricing, Line by Line
Verified from sesamecare.com, May 5, 2026.
| Sesame Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Care subscription, annual plan | $59/month ($708/year) |
| Care subscription, month-to-month | Higher than annual rate — verify at checkout |
| Wegovy injection at Costco Pharmacy (Costco members) | $349/month |
| Ozempic injection at Costco Pharmacy (Costco members) | $349/month |
| First-two-month starter offer (new Costco patients, lowest 2 doses) | $199/month for first 2 fills |
| Wegovy pill (FDA-approved oral semaglutide) | $149/month (lower doses) to $299/month (higher doses) |
| Zepbound KwikPen (dose-dependent) | $299/month (starter) to $698/month (10/12.5/15 mg) |
| Foundayo / orforglipron (FDA-approved April 1, 2026) | $149–$349/month depending on dose |
| Lab work | Included. Online lab ordering in certain states; concierge helps in others (up to $65 annual) |
| Insurance | Subscription is cash-pay. Clinicians help facilitate prior auth for brand-name meds. Covered copays may run as low as $25/month with successful PA. |
The Costco Math Nobody Else Does for You
Most pages stop at “Sesame partners with Costco for Wegovy at $349/month.” Here’s the real annual math:
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Costco Gold Star membership | $65/year (Executive: $130/year) |
| Wegovy injection at Costco Pharmacy | $349/month × 12 = $4,188/year |
| Sesame care subscription (annual plan) | $59/month × 12 = $708/year |
| Annual total, excluding Costco membership | $4,896/year ($408/month) |
| Annual total, including $65 Gold Star membership | $4,961/year (~$413/month) |
For an FDA-approved brand-name GLP-1 with full clinical oversight, that’s competitive — well below typical retail self-pay.
The MEDVi vs Sesame Care True-Cost Matrix
This is the cost picture nobody else assembles in one place. Numbers based on each provider’s public pricing verified May 5, 2026.
| Buyer scenario | Better fit | Month 1 | 3-month | Year-one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compounded semaglutide injection, refill at standard price | MEDVi | $179 | $777 | $3,468 |
| Compounded semaglutide tablet | MEDVi | $249 | ~$747 | ~$2,988 |
| Compounded tirzepatide injection | MEDVi | $349 | ~$1,047 | ~$4,188 |
| Wegovy pill, lower doses, Sesame annual plan | Sesame | $208 ($59 + $149) | $624 | $2,496 |
| Wegovy pill, higher doses, Sesame annual plan | Sesame | $358 ($59 + $299) | $1,074 | $4,296 |
| Wegovy injection, Costco member, Sesame annual plan | Sesame | ~$408 ($59 + $349) | ~$1,224 | ~$4,896 |
| Wegovy/Ozempic injection, first-2-month Costco starter offer | Sesame | $258 ($59 + $199) | $924 | $4,596 |
| Zepbound starter dose, Sesame annual plan | Sesame | $358 | $1,074 | $4,296 |
| Zepbound 10–15 mg, Sesame annual plan | Sesame | $757 ($59 + $698) | $2,271 | $9,084 |
Prices verified May 5, 2026. Prices change — verify before enrolling. Compare on annual cost, not headline price. Brand-name GLP-1s at higher doses still cost real money even with the pricing edge.
What Medications Can You Actually Get from Each?
Quick answer: MEDVi’s strength is the compounded GLP-1 lane — compounded semaglutide injection, compounded tirzepatide injection, and compounded oral tablets. Sesame’s strength is the FDA-approved brand-name lane: Wegovy injection, the Wegovy pill, Zepbound, Foundayo, plus diabetes medications like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Rybelsus.
MEDVi’s Medication Menu
| Medication | Available |
|---|---|
| Compounded semaglutide injection (headline product) | ✅ |
| Compounded tirzepatide injection | ✅ |
| Compounded oral semaglutide tablet | ✅ |
| Compounded oral tirzepatide tablet | ✅ |
| Branded Ozempic injection | ➕ |
| Branded Wegovy / Zepbound paths | ➕ |
Sesame Care’s Medication Menu
| Medication | Category | Available |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy injection | Weight management | ✅ |
| Wegovy pill (FDA-approved oral semaglutide) | Weight management | ✅ |
| Zepbound vial, pen, and KwikPen | Weight management | ✅ |
| Foundayo / orforglipron (FDA-approved April 1, 2026) | Weight management | ✅ |
| Saxenda (liraglutide) | Weight management | ✅ |
| Ozempic injection | Type 2 diabetes; may be prescribed off-label for weight loss | ✅ |
| Mounjaro injection | Type 2 diabetes; may be prescribed off-label for weight loss | ✅ |
| Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) | Type 2 diabetes; may be prescribed off-label for weight loss | ✅ |
| Contrave, metformin, other non-GLP-1 paths | Other weight management | ✅ |
| Compounded GLP-1 options | — | ❌ |
One Thing About Compounded Oral GLP-1s
MEDVi’s compounded oral GLP-1 tablet and Sesame’s FDA-approved Wegovy pill are not the same product, even though both are oral. The Wegovy pill went through FDA review for safety, manufacturing quality, dosing, and absorption. A compounded oral GLP-1 hasn’t. Don’t assume dose, absorption, manufacturing quality, or FDA review is equivalent.
Compounded vs FDA-Approved: The Decision Behind the Decision
Quick answer:
MEDVi’s main products are compounded — patient-specific medications prepared by a state-licensed pharmacy under specific legal conditions. Sesame’s main products are FDA-approved brand-name drugs reviewed by the FDA for safety, dosing, and manufacturing quality.
What “Compounded” Actually Means
A compounded GLP-1 is a medication prepared for a specific patient by a state-licensed pharmacy (503A) or registered outsourcing facility (503B) when legal conditions are met. The finished compounded drug is not FDA-approved and is not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing.
What “FDA-Approved” Actually Means
The medication has been reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. The dose, label, warnings, and ingredients are standardized. Wegovy, Zepbound, Foundayo, and Saxenda are FDA-approved for weight management. Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Rybelsus are FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and may be prescribed off-label for weight loss when clinically appropriate.
The 2026 Regulatory Situation in One Paragraph
The FDA officially resolved the semaglutide shortage on February 21, 2025 and the tirzepatide shortage in December 2024. The enforcement windows that allowed pharmacies to compound copies of these FDA-approved drugs closed in spring 2025. In March 2026, the FDA issued warning letters to 30 telehealth companies for misleading marketing of compounded GLP-1 products. The agency has since proposed permanently excluding semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from the 503B Bulks List — a step that, if finalized after the public comment window closes June 29, 2026, would effectively close large-scale compounding of these drugs even if a new shortage is declared in the future.
When Compounded GLP-1 Still Legitimately Fits a Patient in 2026
The FDA’s framework allows compounded GLP-1s when a licensed clinician determines and documents that the patient’s medical need can’t be met by an FDA-approved drug. That generally looks like:
- A documented allergic reaction to an inactive ingredient in the FDA-approved version
- A documented clinical need for a non-standard dose
- A formulation that’s not commercially available
Lower price alone is not the patient-specific medical-need rationale the FDA describes for compounded GLP-1 use. If your prescriber is recommending a compounded GLP-1, ask them to document the medical reason.
What We Won’t Say (and Why)
We won’t tell you that compounded semaglutide has “the same active ingredient” as Wegovy or Zepbound. We won’t call compounded GLP-1s “clinically proven.” Those are exactly the kinds of marketing claims the FDA has been issuing warning letters about. Either route may be considered by a licensed clinician for the right patient — but the evidence, regulatory review, and manufacturing controls are not the same.
Is MEDVi Legit? The FDA Warning Letter, Explained.
Quick answer:
Yes — MEDVi is a real, operating telehealth company with LegitScript certification, a clinician network through OpenLoop Health, and roughly 13,000 Trustpilot reviews averaging about 4.4 out of 5. It’s not a scam. It also received FDA Warning Letter #721455 on February 20, 2026 for misbranding based on false or misleading claims about compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide products on its website.
What the Warning Letter Actually Said
Source: FDA Warning Letter #721455, February 20, 2026 — publicly available on fda.gov
The FDA reviewed MEDVi’s website in December 2025 and identified two violations:
- MEDVi’s website displayed compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide products with the MEDVi name on the pictured label, which the FDA said falsely implied MEDVi was the compounder of those drugs (it isn’t — MEDVi works with compounding pharmacy partners)
- Statements on the website that the FDA determined implied FDA approval or evaluation of compounded products
What the Warning Letter Did NOT Say
- ❌It did not allege any patient was harmed
- ❌It did not allege the medication itself was unsafe
- ❌It did not order MEDVi to stop selling compounded GLP-1
- ❌It did not call MEDVi a scam or fraud
Note: the FDA letter explicitly states the cited violations are not necessarily an exhaustive list.
The Industry Context: MEDVi Was One of 30
MEDVi was one of 30 telehealth companies the FDA sent similar warning letters to in early 2026. The FDA’s March 2026 press release announced an industry-wide enforcement wave against misleading marketing of compounded GLP-1 products. MEDVi was not singled out for unique conduct. That said — “everybody else got one too” isn’t a reason to ignore it. It’s a reason to read every compounded provider’s marketing language carefully.
How a Real Buyer Should Weigh This
MEDVi is not the cleanest choice if your top priority is zero regulatory ambiguity, FDA-approved brand-name medication, or insurance support. If those matter most, Sesame Care is the better fit — its program is built around FDA-approved meds and we did not find an equivalent FDA action against Sesame in our May 2026 verification.
But here’s what MEDVi skips that lets it deliver something Sesame can’t: by sticking to a cash-pay compounded model with bundled pricing, MEDVi can offer one of the lowest predictable monthly all-ins in the category — $179 first month and $299 ongoing, with medication, clinician review, and unlimited messaging included. For a cash-pay shopper who’s already comfortable with the compounded route, that’s a real edge. We’re surfacing this because you have a right to know it before you click enroll — not because it’s a dealbreaker for everyone.
Is Sesame Care Legit?
Yes. Sesame is an established U.S. healthcare marketplace co-founded in 2018 by David Goldhill, with the Success by Sesame weight loss program launched in 2024. The Costco partnership has reported a Net Promoter Score of 82 (rated “world-class” per Sesame’s published materials). We did not find an FDA warning letter for Sesame in the FDA’s public warning-letter database during our May 2026 verification.
Why Sesame Is Harder to Get Wrong
- ✓All medications are FDA-approved finished products — no compounded GLP-1s on the menu
- ✓Pharmacy fulfillment through licensed retail and mail-order pharmacies
- ✓Browse clinician profiles and read patient feedback before booking
- ✓Costco partnership delivers documented self-pay savings on Wegovy and Ozempic
- ✓Trustpilot ~4.5 across ~4,000 reviews (verified May 2026)
What to Watch With Sesame
- ⚠$59/month care plan requires an annual commitment — verify month-to-month price at checkout
- ⚠Lab inclusion has a footnote: online lab ordering is only available in certain states
- ⚠HSA/FSA isn't automatic on the subscription — verify with your plan administrator
- ⚠Costco pricing requires an active Costco membership ($65/year Gold Star fee)
- ⚠Brand-name medication still costs real money — Zepbound at higher doses can run $698/month
Insurance, HSA/FSA, and Costco — Who Wins Each Path?
Sesame
Insurance is accepted for weight-loss medications. Providers help with prior authorization. With a successful PA on a covered plan, your medication copay may run as low as $25/month depending on the medication and plan.
MEDVi
Cash-pay only. MEDVi’s affiliated medical professional entities are not contracted with health insurance plans. Don’t enroll with MEDVi expecting insurance reimbursement.
Worth knowing: Ro is another strong option for the FDA-approved insurance path — carries Foundayo, Wegovy pill, Wegovy pen, Zepbound pen, and Zepbound KwikPen, has a dedicated insurance concierge, and starts at $39 for the first month with ongoing pricing as low as $74/month with annual plan paid upfront.
Through the partnership, Costco members get:
- →Wegovy injection: $349/month at Costco Pharmacy (about half the typical retail self-pay price)
- →Ozempic injection: $349/month at Costco Pharmacy
- →First-two-month starter offer: $199/month for new patients on the lowest two doses
Requires active Costco membership and an active prescription through Sesame. The Wegovy pill price is a separate Sesame benefit — not specifically a Costco pharmacy partnership offer.
Both providers reference HSA/FSA in their materials, but actual reimbursement is determined by your plan administrator. Sesame’s terms specifically note that membership fees may not be covered by most insurance, HSA, or FSA plans. Medication, visit, and lab costs are more commonly eligible. Save the receipts and check with your plan before assuming coverage.
Cancellation, Refunds, and the Stuff That Bites People After They Sign Up
Quick answer:
MEDVi requires at least 72 hours’ notice before your billing date to cancel. Non-medical cancellations generally don’t get refunded. Sesame’s membership cancellation rule is at least 48 hours before renewal, with no prorated refund for the current term.
MEDVi Cancellation — The Actual Rules
- →Cancel through customer service or the patient portal
- ⚠Must be received at least 72 hours before your billing date
- ⚠If your cancellation lands inside the 72-hour window, the next charge processes and cancellation takes effect after that cycle
- ✗Non-medical cancellations generally do not get refunded (exception: medical disqualification)
Sesame Care Cancellation — The Actual Rules
- →Cancel membership at least 48 hours before your renewal date
- ✗Not eligible for a prorated refund for the current subscription term
- ✓Keep access through the end of the term you already paid for
- →Virtual visits can be canceled up to 3 hours before the scheduled time
- →Prescription refills can be canceled if not yet processed for delivery
A simple example: if your billing renewal lands on Friday —
- For MEDVi: send your cancellation by Tuesday at the latest
- For Sesame: send your cancellation by Wednesday at the latest
Send it in writing. Save the timestamp. Save the confirmation email. If a charge appears after a confirmed cancellation, you’ve got documentation to dispute it.
The cancellation script we wish someone had handed us first:
“Please cancel my subscription effective immediately. This request is being submitted more than [72 hours / 48 hours] before my next billing date. Please confirm in writing that my cancellation has been received, has been processed, and that no further subscription or refill charges will occur. Thank you.”
What Do MEDVi vs Sesame Care Reviews Say on Trustpilot?
Reviews are useful for understanding the experience of using a service — onboarding, support responsiveness, billing clarity. They’re not useful as evidence of medical safety or typical weight-loss results.
MEDVi on Trustpilot
Last checked May 5, 2026
4.4
out of 5
~13K
reviews
Common positive themes:
Quick approval, simple onboarding, medication arrived as expected, helpful provider review
Common complaint themes:
Unexpected charges after cancellation attempts, refund delays, difficulty reaching customer support, occasional shipping issues
Sesame Care on Trustpilot
Last checked May 5, 2026
4.5
out of 5
~4K
reviews
Common positive themes:
Ability to choose your clinician, fast appointment scheduling, Costco pricing on Wegovy described as a real cost saver, friendly providers
Common complaint themes:
Occasional miscommunication around refills, dissatisfaction when a clinician didn’t meet specific expectations
The 10-Question Pre-Enrollment Checklist
Before you click enroll on either MEDVi or Sesame, run this checklist. Every question has a specific answer somewhere on the provider’s site, in their support chat, or in their terms. If you can’t find one, that itself is your answer.
- 1
Is the medication FDA-approved as a finished product, or compounded?
MEDVi: mostly compounded. Sesame: FDA-approved brand-name.
- 2
If compounded, which pharmacy will dispense my prescription?
Ask MEDVi directly — confirm the dispensing pharmacy before payment.
- 3
What's my real all-in monthly cost — subscription plus medication plus any fees?
Use the cost matrix above.
- 4
Is my headline price month-to-month, or does it require multi-month or annual commitment?
Sesame's $59 requires annual; verify MEDVi multi-month plans at checkout.
- 5
What's the cancellation deadline?
MEDVi: 72 hours before billing. Sesame: 48 hours before renewal.
- 6
What gets refunded if I cancel? What if I'm not approved?
MEDVi: generally no refund on non-medical cancellation. Sesame: no prorated refund for current term.
- 7
Are labs included or extra?
Sesame: included with state-availability footnote. MEDVi: included when medically necessary.
- 8
Is my clinician licensed in my state? Can I see credentials?
Sesame: profiles visible. MEDVi: assigned through OpenLoop network.
- 9
For injectable medication: how is cold-chain handled, and what do I do if it arrives warm?
See FDA guidance below.
- 10
What's the medical reason in my chart for compounded vs FDA-approved?
Especially if going the compounded route — your prescriber should be able to articulate it.
The FDA Guidance Most Pages Skip — Cold Chain
The FDA has specifically warned that injectable GLP-1 drugs require refrigeration, and the agency has received complaints about compounded GLP-1 products arriving warm or without adequate ice packs. The FDA’s guidance is to not use any GLP-1 medication that arrives warm or appears inadequately refrigerated — contact the pharmacy and request a replacement. This applies to any provider shipping injectable GLP-1 by mail. Always inspect the package on arrival and document any temperature issues immediately.
What If Neither MEDVi nor Sesame Care Fits?
If you’ve read this far and rejected both, route based on why you rejected them.
- →You want FDA-approved medication with a stronger insurance-led path: Look at Ro. Ro carries Foundayo, Wegovy pill, Wegovy pen, Zepbound pen, and Zepbound KwikPen, has a dedicated insurance concierge that handles prior authorization paperwork, and offers a free GLP-1 Insurance Coverage Checker. Pricing: $39 first month, then as low as $74/month with annual plan paid upfront.
- →You want a broad cash-pay alternative: See our best GLP-1 telehealth providers guide for the full menu.
- →You specifically want a compounded oral or sublingual route: We cover oral GLP-1 specialists in the oral GLP-1 provider guide.
- →You’re still uncertain: Take the 60-second matching quiz — we’ll route you based on insurance, Costco status, medication preference, budget, and state.
How We Compared MEDVi and Sesame Care — What We Actually Verified
This comparison was researched and written by the Weight Loss Provider Guide editorial team. We checked each provider’s official pricing pages, terms of service, and cancellation policies. We read FDA primary sources including Warning Letter #721455 and the FDA’s GLP-1 compounding guidance. We pulled review distributions from Trustpilot.
| What we verified | Status |
|---|---|
| MEDVi pricing (home.medvi.org, glp.medvi.org) | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| MEDVi compounded semaglutide injection: $179 first month, $299 refills | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| MEDVi compounded semaglutide tablet: ~$249/month | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| MEDVi compounded tirzepatide injection: $349/month | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| MEDVi compounded tirzepatide tablet: ~$279/month | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| MEDVi branded Ozempic: $1,999/month | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| MEDVi cancellation policy: 72-hour notice, no refund on non-medical cancellation | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| Sesame pricing: $59/month annual subscription | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| Sesame Wegovy pill: $149–$299/month by dose | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| Sesame Wegovy/Ozempic at Costco Pharmacy: $349/month | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| Sesame Zepbound dose-tiered: $299–$698/month | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| Sesame Foundayo: $149–$349/month by dose | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| Sesame cancellation: 48-hour notice, no prorated refund | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| FDA Warning Letter #721455 (MEDVi, Feb 20, 2026) — read directly on fda.gov | ✅ Verified |
| FDA "Warns 30 Telehealth Companies" press release, March 2026 | ✅ Verified |
| FDA semaglutide shortage resolved: February 21, 2025 | ✅ Verified |
| FDA tirzepatide shortage resolved: December 2024 | ✅ Verified |
| FDA cold-chain guidance for GLP-1 injectables | ✅ Verified |
| Foundayo FDA approval date: April 1, 2026 | ✅ Verified |
| MEDVi Trustpilot: ~4.4 / ~13,000 reviews | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| Sesame Trustpilot: ~4.5 / ~4,000 reviews | ✅ Verified May 5, 2026 |
| No FDA warning letter found for Sesame in public database | ✅ Verified May 2026 |
Limitations: Pricing changes. If you’re reading this more than 90 days after our “Last verified” date, double-check current pricing on each provider’s site. Eligibility depends on your medical history and clinician judgment. This page is not medical advice.
What we won’t do: claim compounded medication has “the same active ingredient” as Wegovy or Zepbound; call compounded medication “clinically proven”; fabricate testimonials; hide a regulatory action because the affected provider has a higher commission rate; push a higher-paying option when the evidence favors the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is MEDVi better than Sesame Care?
- For a cash-pay shopper who wants one bundled monthly price and is open to compounded medication, MEDVi is the better fit. For a brand-name, Costco, insurance, labs, or provider-choice shopper, Sesame Care is the better fit. There isn't a universal "better" — there's a "better for your situation."
- Is Sesame Care better than MEDVi?
- Sesame is better when you want FDA-approved brand-name medication, the Costco discount, insurance support, included labs, or the ability to choose your own clinician. It's not necessarily better for someone who just wants the lowest, simplest cash-pay compounded path.
- Is MEDVi cheaper than Sesame Care?
- On the headline price for compounded semaglutide injection, yes — MEDVi's $179 first month and $299 ongoing is lower than Sesame's $59 subscription plus $349/month Wegovy injection at Costco. On real total cost, the answer depends on which medication and whether you have Costco access. Sesame's Wegovy pill at lower doses ($149/month + $59 subscription = $208 all-in) can land in a similar range to MEDVi's ongoing $299/month.
- Is Sesame Care only for Costco members?
- No. Anyone in the U.S. can subscribe to Success by Sesame at $59/month with an annual plan. Costco members get the additional $349/month Wegovy or Ozempic injection price at Costco Pharmacy. Non-members can still enroll and fill prescriptions at any pharmacy — they just won't get the Costco-specific discount.
- Did the FDA shut down compounded semaglutide?
- The FDA declared the semaglutide shortage resolved on February 21, 2025, and the windows that let pharmacies compound copies of FDA-approved semaglutide closed in spring 2025. Compounding can still continue when a licensed clinician documents a patient-specific medical need that an FDA-approved product can't meet — but it's no longer a general-purpose substitute for Wegovy or Ozempic.
- Is compounded semaglutide as effective as Wegovy?
- We won't make that claim, and no compliant marketing page will. Compounded products are not individually evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Some patients report comparable experiences. Others don't. The honest answer is that compounded outcomes don't have the same controlled clinical trial data behind them as FDA-approved Wegovy.
- Does MEDVi accept insurance?
- No. MEDVi is cash-pay only. HSA and FSA cards may be accepted depending on your plan administrator — but plan ahead and don't assume reimbursement.
- Does Sesame Care take insurance for weight-loss medication?
- The care subscription is cash-pay, but Sesame's clinicians help with prior authorization paperwork for FDA-approved brand-name medication. With a successful prior authorization on a covered plan, your medication copay may drop to as low as $25/month depending on plan and medication.
- Did MEDVi get an FDA warning letter?
- Yes. On February 20, 2026, the FDA sent MEDVi Warning Letter #721455 citing misbranding based on false or misleading claims, including label artwork that suggested MEDVi was the compounder of its semaglutide and tirzepatide products (it isn't) and statements that the FDA determined implied FDA approval of compounded products. The letter addressed promotional claims. It didn't allege patient harm or order MEDVi to stop selling. MEDVi was one of 30 telehealth companies in an industry-wide enforcement wave.
- Is MEDVi safe?
- MEDVi is a real, operating, LegitScript-certified telehealth platform with predominantly positive Trustpilot reviews. The medication safety question is fundamentally about the compounded medication itself — and compounded medications are not individually FDA-evaluated for safety. If "FDA-approved medication" is part of how you define safe, Sesame is the better fit. If you understand the compounded route and want a cash-pay option, MEDVi is operating and dispensing.
- Is Sesame Care safe?
- Sesame uses U.S.-licensed clinicians and FDA-approved medication dispensed through standard licensed pharmacies. We did not find any FDA warning letters or material regulatory actions against Sesame in our May 2026 verification. It carries a roughly 4.5 Trustpilot rating across about 4,000 reviews, and the Costco partnership has reported a Net Promoter Score of 82 per Sesame's published materials.
- Can I cancel MEDVi anytime?
- You can cancel anytime, but the request must be received at least 72 hours before your next billing date for that cycle's cancellation to be effective. Late cancellations process the next charge first. Non-medical cancellations generally don't get refunded.
- Can I cancel Sesame Care anytime?
- You can cancel anytime, but Sesame requires at least 48 hours notice before your renewal date. After cancellation, you are not eligible for a prorated refund for the current subscription term — you keep access through the end of the term you already paid for, but you don't get money back for unused days.
Ready to act on what fits?
Both providers are real operating telehealth routes. Prescriptions require clinician review. Pick the path that fits your situation, screenshot the price you saw, and start.
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Methodology
We’re Weight Loss Provider Guide, an independent comparison resource for GLP-1 telehealth providers. We checked each provider’s official pricing pages, terms of service, and cancellation policies as of May 5, 2026. We read FDA primary sources including Warning Letter #721455 and the FDA’s GLP-1 compounding guidance. We pulled review data from Trustpilot. We have affiliate relationships with MEDVi, Sesame Care, and Ro — commissions don’t change our editorial calls.
Medical disclaimer: Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Prices change — verify on each provider’s site before signing up. This page is informational and not medical advice. Talk to your clinician about which medication and program are right for your specific situation.
Last verified: . We re-check prices, provider terms, trust ratings, and FDA guidance monthly.