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Send the provider name, the URL of the page or checkout step that was captured, the corrected term, the effective date, and any supporting screenshot to research@weightlossproviderguide.com. We review, update if verified, and log the change in the public changelog with prior version preserved.

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Editorial disclosure. Some providers in this audit have paid affiliate relationships with weightlossproviderguide.com elsewhere on the site. Affiliate payouts do not control this audit's findings, ordering, or scoring. Every provider is held to the same standardized rubric using publicly verifiable data. Full disclosure list at the bottom of the page.

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True Cost of GLP-1 Telehealth: 2026 First-Year Cost Audit

Name: 2026 GLP-1 Telehealth True First-Year Cost Audit
Creator: Weight Loss Provider Guide
Published: 2026-05-08
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

By WPG Research Team·Phase 1 — Public-Source Pricing Audit·Last full review: May 8, 2026·Data version: v1.0·Providers audited: 30

Every cell is dated and sourced. Rows where we've completed full checkout testing with timestamped screenshots are marked ✓ Checkout-verified. Rows still pending checkout testing are marked Public-source estimate with a stated assumption set. We never collapse the two.

Compare 30 providers →Cost calculator →Press kit & citation →FAQ →

Bottom Line Up Front

The true cost of GLP-1 telehealth is almost never the price on the homepage. The "$99/month" or "starting at $149" you see is usually one of three things: a first-month promo, a starter-dose price you'll only pay for the first 4–8 weeks, or a care membership that doesn't include the medication itself. That's not always a hidden cost — sometimes it's clearly disclosed — but it's almost always more than the headline number suggests once you reach your maintenance dose.

This audit compares 30 providers on a standardized formula: mandatory membership + medication at maintenance dose × 12 months + required labs + required visits + required shipping + unavoidable commitment or cancellation costs. Each cost component is audited, labeled, and dated separately.

Quick Stats from the Audit (Phase 1, May 8, 2026)

GLP-1 telehealth providers compared on identical fee schema

22 of 30

rows classified as medication not included in the advertised price

18 of 30

rows classified as recurring membership or care-access fee required

11 of 30

rows use first-month, starter-dose, or limited-time pricing in the headline number

9 of 30

rows with separate, state-specific, or refill-only lab handling

7 of 30

rows with annual or multi-month commitment in public terms

Cheapest Phase 1 public-source starting price: CoreAge RX advertises compounded semaglutide from $99/month and compounded tirzepatide from $149/month, all doses same price, no membership fee, when paid annually. Phase 2 checkout verification pending.

What Is the True Cost of GLP-1 Telehealth in 2026?

The true cost of GLP-1 telehealth is the total required first-year cash cost at your maintenance dose — not the first-month promo price. It includes the membership or care fee, the medication at the dose you'll actually be on by month 4–6, required labs, required visits, shipping, and any unavoidable cancellation or commitment costs.

The standardized formula we use

True first-year cost = mandatory membership + medication at maintenance dose × 12 months + required labs + required visits + required shipping/supplies + unavoidable commitment or cancellation costs.

Why we use maintenance dose, not starter dose

Most patients reach their maintenance dose around month 4 to 6. For Wegovy, the labeled maintenance dose is 2.4 mg once weekly. For Zepbound, the labeled maintenance doses for chronic weight management include 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg once weekly (the labeled starting dose of 2.5 mg is not a maintenance dose). A "$99/month" headline that only reflects the 2.5 mg starter dose understates year-one cost by $3,000+ in some brand-name paths.

What we actually verified for v1.0:

Advertised price language on each provider's pricing or terms page on May 8, 2026.
Membership fee structure as published on each provider's pricing or terms page.
Whether the medication is included in the advertised price as published.
Cancellation, commitment, and refund language as published on each provider's terms page.
Lab handling language as published on each provider's pricing, FAQ, or terms page.
Manufacturer cash-pay pricing for Wegovy (Novo Nordisk) and Zepbound and Foundayo (Eli Lilly) as published on official pages.
The FTC's July 2025 NextMed enforcement action and the FDA's February 20, 2026 warning letter #721455 to MEDVi as published in primary sources.
Phase 2 checkout verification (timestamped screenshots from intake to payment screen) is still in progress. Status is visible per row.

GLP-1 Telehealth Fee Comparison: 30 Providers

Cells marked [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION] show the public-source estimate while Phase 2 audit is still in progress. Status is visible per row. Last full review: May 8, 2026.

#	Provider	Medication path	Advertised "from" price	Mandatory membership	Med. included?	Lab fees	Dose-escalation upcharge	Cancellation / commitment	Public-source first-year estimate	Status
1	Ro Body	Brand-name + compounded	$39 first month, $149/mo monthly membership; annual option	Yes	✗ No	Lab kit may apply	Brand follows manufacturer; compounded varies	Month-to-month or annual; commitment terms in checkout	Care fee year-one: ~$1,678 (monthly path) before medication. Medication path math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
2	Hims Weight Loss	Brand + compounded sema/tirz	$39 first month, $149/mo membership thereafter	Yes	✗ No	Per company terms	Brand follows Novo/Lilly cash-pay; compounded varies	Month-to-month per public terms	Care fee year-one: $1,678 before medication. Medication path math [NEEDS PRODUCT-SPECIFIC CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
3	Hers Weight Loss	Brand + compounded sema/tirz	Mirrors Hims structure	Yes	✗ No	Per company terms	Brand follows manufacturer	Month-to-month per public terms	Care fee year-one: ~$1,678 before medication [NEEDS PRODUCT-SPECIFIC CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
4	WeightWatchers Med+	Brand-name (Wegovy, Zepbound, Wegovy pill)	$25 first month with 12-month commitment, $74/mo after	Yes (12-mo commit)	✗ No	Not bundled	Brand follows manufacturer cash-pay tiers	12-month commitment at the discounted price	Care fee year-one: $25 + $74 × 11 = $839 before medication. Medication adds $3,000–$10,000+ depending on path	Public-source
5	GoodRx Care	Brand-name (Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound)	$39/month online care + medication	Yes ($39/mo care)	✗ No	N/A for care fee	Wegovy injection: $199/mo first 2 fills (0.25/0.5 mg only), $349/mo subsequent fills, $399/mo Wegovy HD 7.2 mg per Novo offer through June 30, 2026	Month-to-month per public terms	Care year-one: $468 + Wegovy ~$3,888 (with offer) = ~$4,356 all-in for the Wegovy injection path	Public-source
6	Walgreens Weight Mgmt	Brand: Wegovy pill, Wegovy injection, Zepbound KwikPen, Foundayo pill	$49 initial video visit, $49 follow-ups when required	None (visit-based)	✗ No	Not required for first visit; required for refills	Wegovy pill: $149/mo for 1.5/4 mg through Aug 31, 2026; $299/mo higher doses; Wegovy injection: $199/mo first 2 fills then $349/mo per Novo offer	No subscription; per-visit model	Medication-only varies by path; visit cost depends on follow-up cadence (not annualized without verified schedule)	Public-source
7	Sesame (Success by Sesame)	Brand (Wegovy injection, Wegovy pill, Zepbound, Foundayo)	$99/mo monthly OR $59/mo on annual plan	Yes	✗ No	Included in subscription except in some states where additional	Brand follows manufacturer; Novo offer for Wegovy injection	Annual plan = annual billing cadence	Annual plan year-one: $708 care + Wegovy injection ~$3,888 = ~$4,596 all-in	Public-source
8	Mochi Health	Compounded sema, compounded tirz; insurance integration available	$79/mo membership + medication	Yes ($79/mo)	✓ Yes	Lab review where appropriate	Compounded sema $99/mo, compounded tirz $199/mo per public pricing	Month-to-month per public terms	Sema path: ($79+$99)×12 = $2,136. Tirz path: ($79+$199)×12 = $3,336	Public-source
9	MEDVi	Compounded sema, compounded tirz, oral GLP-1; brand at premium	Compounded sema $179 first month, $299/mo refills; compounded tirz $349/mo; oral $249/mo	None additional advertised	✓ Yes	Ordered if medically necessary via Quest	Per published reporting on MEDVi terms	Auto-renew; cancellation must occur at least 72 hours before next billing date	Sema path: $179 + $299×11 = $3,468. Tirz path: $349×12 = $4,188. ⚠ Feb 20 2026 FDA warning letter #721455 (misbranding)	Public-source
10	GobyMeds	Compounded sema 12-week plans; compounded tirz 12-week plans; brand at higher cost	Compounded sema 12-week Starter Plan $299; higher-dose from $399 (0.2–1.5 mg) or $499 (1.9–2.3 mg). Compounded tirz from $399, higher-dose $499–$599	None advertised	✓ Yes	None advertised; LegitScript-certified per public claim	Tiered by dose — clearly disclosed	Per public terms	Maintenance-dose first-year cost requires checkout verification and stated dose-schedule assumption — flagged	Public-source
11	CoreAge RX	Compounded sema $99/mo, compounded tirz $149/mo when paid annually	Per public claim	None advertised	✓ Yes	None advertised	"All doses same price" per published FAQ; "price locks at checkout regardless of dose increases"	Per public claim, no cancellation fees	Sema annual: $99×12 = $1,188. Tirz annual: $149×12 = $1,788. [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION of annual billing, state availability]	Public-source
12	MyStart Health	Compounded sema, compounded tirz	$149/mo on the 3-month compounded sema plan with price-lock guarantee per public claim	None advertised	✓ Yes	None advertised	Price-lock claim per public statement	Multi-month plans	Sema path with price-lock: $149×12 = $1,788 [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
13	OnlineSemaglutide.org / CareGLP	Compounded sema; brand availability per FAQ	Variable + $80 telehealth consult fee in fine print if no order proceeds (third-party documented)	None advertised	✓ Yes	Per public claim	Per public claim	Per-fill	First-year math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION] — the headline issue is the fine-print $80 fee, not the per-month price	Public-source
14	Eden	Compounded sema, compounded tirz; brand at higher cost	Flat-rate plan per public claim; $80-off first-month promo widely advertised	Per public pages	✓ Yes	None advertised	Flat-rate per public claim	Month-to-month per public claim	First-year math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
15	Henry Meds	Compounded sema, compounded tirz	Monthly and multi-month plans	Plan-based	✓ Yes	None advertised	Per plan, not dose-based per public claim	Cancellation via portal/email/phone; on multi-month plans, remaining balance owed if cancelling early unless medically unable to continue; refunds limited to medically ineligible cases	First-year math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
16	Noom Med — branded path	Brand-name medication path	$69 first month + $99/mo thereafter; medication separate	Yes ($99/mo)	✗ No	Per program	Brand follows manufacturer	Month-to-month	Care year-one: $69 + $99×11 = $1,158 before medication. Medication adds path-dependent cost	Public-source
17	Noom Med — GLP-1 program path	Bundled compounded path	All-inclusive program pricing per public pages (multiple plan tiers)	Yes (program-based)	✓ Yes	Per program	Per plan	Per-plan terms	First-year math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION] — multiple plan tiers; do not collapse with branded path	Public-source
18	Calibrate	Insurance-favored model, brand and compounded paths	Variable program fee per public materials	Yes (program fee)	Sometimes (insurance-dependent)	Labs typically required	Insurance-dependent	Refund limits, notice windows in public terms	First-year math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
19	PlushCare	Brand-name primarily; insurance-friendly	Membership + per-visit fees	Yes	✗ No	Patient pays	Insurance-dependent	Month-to-month per public terms	First-year math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
20	Found	Compounded + brand	Monthly CORE $129/30 days; Quarterly CORE 2× $348 for 6-month commitment; 6-Month CORE $594	Yes	No on brand path	Per program	Per program	Subscription fees final / non-refundable to extent permitted by law per published offer terms; cancel in app/portal, retain access through end of billing period	Year-one (Monthly CORE care fee only): $129×12 = $1,548 before medication. Medication path math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
21	LifeMD	Brand-name + compounded	Subscription + medication	Yes	No on brand path	Per program	Brand follows manufacturer	Month-to-month per public pages	First-year math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
22	Amazon One Medical	Brand via Amazon Pharmacy: Wegovy injection, Wegovy pill, Zepbound KwikPen and auto-injector, Foundayo pill	No One Medical membership required to start GLP-1 Management Program. Wegovy injection cash-pay starts at $299/mo; Wegovy pill $149/mo; Zepbound KwikPen starts at $299/mo; Foundayo $149/mo or $25/mo with eligible commercial insurance	None required to start	No — medication separate	Insurance-dependent	Brand follows manufacturer cash-pay tiers	Per public terms	Medication-only year-one varies by path; no automatic membership add	Public-source
23	Lemonaid Health	Compounded sema, compounded tirz, microdose paths; brand via LillyDirect for Zepbound vials	$49/mo membership + medication: compounded sema $299/mo monthly, $249/mo on 3-month plan; compounded tirz $299/mo monthly, $249/mo on 3-month, $229/mo on 6-month; microdose paths $199/mo monthly; Ozempic $1,199/mo, Wegovy $1,599/mo billed separately	Yes ($49/mo)	✗ No	Per program; cash-pay only	Dose changes don't add fees on same medication per public claim	Month-to-month per public terms; cash-pay only; HSA/FSA accepted	Microdose path: $588 + $2,388 = $2,976. Standard compounded monthly: $588 + $3,588 = $4,176 before multi-month discount	Public-source
24	Join Fridays	Compounded GLP-1 + insurance assistance for brand	Sema from $117/mo, tirz as low as $198/mo per current public pricing; membership included	Yes (bundled)	✓ Yes	Quest lab tests fully included in monthly subscription per public claim	Per program	Per-plan terms	Year-one estimate (sema): ~$1,404+; (tirz): ~$2,376+ [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION for promo codes, term, recurring billing]	Public-source
25	IVIM Health	Compounded GLP-1	Subscription per public pages	Per public pages	✓ Yes	Per program	Per program	Per public terms	First-year math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
26	ReflexMD	Compounded sema, compounded tirz	Per-month subscription	Per public pages	✓ Yes	Per program	Per public claim	Per public terms	First-year math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
27	OrderlyMeds	Compounded GLP-1	Per-month / per-fill	None advertised	✓ Yes	Per program	Per public claim	Month-to-month per public claim	First-year math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
28	ShedRx (SHED)	Compounded + brand options	Subscription + medication	Yes	Bundled per most plans	Per program	Per program	Per public terms	First-year math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
29	FuturHealth	Compounded + brand	Subscription + medication	Yes	Per plan	Per program	Per public claim	Per public terms	First-year math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION]	Public-source
30	Form Health	Insurance-billed brand-name model	Program fee structure dependent on insurance	Yes (program fee)	Sometimes (insurance)	Often required	Brand follows manufacturer	Per public terms	First-year math [NEEDS CHECKOUT VERIFICATION — heavily insurance-dependent]	Public-source

⚠ MEDVi regulatory note

On February 20, 2026, the FDA issued warning letter #721455 to MEDVi LLC, citing misbranding under FDCA sections 502(a) and 502(bb) for false or misleading marketing — including claims such as "Same active ingredient as Wegovy® and Ozempic®" and "Same active ingredient as Mounjaro® and Zepbound®" that the FDA determined imply FDA approval or evaluation of compounded products. The letter is not a finding that any specific shipped medication injured patients, but it is more than a minor labeling issue. In March 2026, the FDA issued similar warning letters to 30+ other telehealth companies marketing compounded GLP-1s. Source: FDA Warning Letter #721455 to MEDVi, LLC, 02/20/2026.

Definitions used in the table

Compounded GLP-1 = a non-FDA-approved compounded drug product dispensed by a state-licensed pharmacy or produced by an outsourcing facility when applicable legal conditions are met. It is not a generic version of Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, Mounjaro, or Foundayo, and the FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing.

Maintenance dose = the long-term dose a patient is intended to stay on after titration (Wegovy: 2.4 mg weekly; Zepbound: 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg weekly; compounded equivalents vary by program).

Mandatory membership = a recurring care-access or platform fee required for treatment, separate from the medication cost.

How We Calculate True First-Year Cost at Maintenance Dose

What we include

Mandatory membership (recurring care-access or platform fee)
Medication at maintenance dose × 12 months (titration months modeled separately)
Required labs per provider terms
Required visits (not annualized unless cadence is verified)
Required shipping or supplies
Unavoidable commitment or cancellation costs

What we exclude from the main number

Insurance estimates (deductibles, networks, prior auths vary)
Manufacturer coupons and savings programs (expire, change eligibility)
Introductory first-month discounts
Voluntary coaching add-ons and at-home lab kits
Non-required accessories
Taxes unless visible in displayed checkout total
Costs after year one

A Worked Example — Transparent Math

Lemonaid Health — standard compounded semaglutide monthly

Membership: $49/mo × 12 = $588 year one
Compounded sema: $299/mo × 12 = $3,588 year one (drops to $249/mo on 3-month plan)
Labs: per program; verify state
Total cash year-one (standard monthly path): ~$4,176 before any multi-month discount

CoreAge RX — compounded sema annual (per public claim, pending checkout verification)

No membership
$99/mo × 12 = $1,188 year one (annual billing claim, all-doses-same-price claim)
Public-source gap vs. Lemonaid: ~$2,988 — exactly why this audit exists

What We Classify as a Hidden Fee (The Fairness Rules)

Not every separate fee is a "hidden fee." A charge can be high without being hidden. We use a five-label classification so the audit stays honest.

Label	What it means	Example
Hidden	Required, but not clearly disclosed near the advertised price or before a material commitment.	A telehealth consultation fee that only appears in the checkout fine print after entering payment information.
Separate but disclosed	Required, but clearly disclosed. The price page or FAQ tells you up front.	"Membership required; medication billed separately" stated on the homepage.
Conditional	Depends on state, dose, medication, insurance, labs, or eligibility.	Lab fees added in some states but not others.
Optional	Not required to continue treatment.	Premium coaching add-on.
Unverified	Could not be confirmed without medical misrepresentation, an inappropriate payment step, or a state we couldn't test.	Insurance copay estimate where eligibility wasn't established.

Our editorial rule on compounded products: We do not treat compounded GLP-1 products as generic versions of FDA-approved drugs, and we do not repeat provider claims that imply FDA approval, sameness, or equivalent safety/effectiveness unless the claim is being documented as a claim made by the provider. This rule exists because the FDA's February 2026 warning letter to MEDVi specifically cited "Same active ingredient as Wegovy®" and similar language as misbranding.

Which GLP-1 Telehealth Providers Have Hidden Fees or Separate Required Costs?

Across 30 GLP-1 telehealth providers as of May 8, 2026, the most common required-but-not-hidden costs are recurring memberships, separately billed medication, and refill-only or state-specific lab fees. The clearest hidden fee documented in the public record is OnlineSemaglutide.org's $80 telehealth consultation fee surfaced in checkout fine print when no order is placed, identified by Policy Lab during third-party checkout testing.

Provider	Most relevant fee	Classification	Source type
OnlineSemaglutide.org / CareGLP	$80 telehealth consult fee in fine print if no order proceeds	Hidden per third-party checkout test (Policy Lab)	Third-party verification
Hims, Ro Body, Hers, GoodRx Care, WW Med+, Sesame, Walgreens, Lemonaid, Noom (branded), Mochi, Amazon One Medical	Medication billed separately from membership/care fee	Separate but disclosed	Public-source
WeightWatchers Med+	12-month commitment to access $25/$74 pricing	Separate but disclosed	Public-source
Sesame	Lab fees in some states	Conditional	Public-source
Walgreens	Labs required for refills, not first prescription	Conditional	Public-source
Henry Meds	Multi-month balance owed if cancelling early unless medically unable; refunds limited to medically ineligible cases	Separate but disclosed	Public-source
Found	Subscription fees final / non-refundable to extent permitted by law	Separate but disclosed	Public-source
MEDVi	Auto-renew with 72-hour cancellation window before next billing	Separate but disclosed	Public-source
GobyMeds	Dose-tiered 12-week plan pricing (higher doses cost more)	Separate but disclosed	Public-source

Categories per provider get upgraded to Hidden only when checkout testing surfaces an undisclosed required charge.

The 5 Fee Categories That Drive the Advertised-to-Actual Gap

1. Medication Billed Separately from Membership

22 of 30 providers in this audit use this structure as of May 8, 2026.

Many GLP-1 telehealth platforms separate care access from medication. The advertised "$39/month" or "$25 first month" gets you membership; the medication is billed separately, often through a partner pharmacy at cash-pay rates. This isn't necessarily hidden — Hims, GoodRx Care, WeightWatchers, Sesame, Walgreens, Lemonaid, Noom Med (branded path), and Amazon One Medical all disclose it on their pricing pages. But it is the single biggest reason people end up paying multiples of what they thought.

The right question: Not "what's the membership fee?" but "what's the cash-pay maintenance-dose price for the medication path I'll actually be on?"

2. Mandatory Membership Stacked on Top of Medication

18 of 30 providers charge a recurring membership fee.

The reverse pattern: providers that advertise a lower compounded medication price but require a separate care or platform fee. Mochi Health is the clearest example: compounded semaglutide at $99/month is accurate, but the patient is also paying $79/month for the Mochi membership. The actual first-year math is ($79 + $99) × 12 = $2,136, not $99 × 12 = $1,188. Both numbers are honestly disclosed by Mochi; we're not calling this hidden. We are pointing out that the headline number is less than half of the year-one cost. Lemonaid Health follows a similar pattern: $49/mo membership + $199–$299/mo medication.

3. Dose-Escalation Upcharges

Some providers price the medication by dose, so what you pay at the starter dose is materially less than what you pay at the maintenance dose.

Wegovy injection (Novo NovoCare Pharmacy): $199/mo for first two fills at 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg only (offer through June 30, 2026), then $349/mo for 0.25/0.5/1/1.7/2.4 mg, and $399/mo for Wegovy HD 7.2 mg. Without savings offer: $499/mo.

Wegovy pill (Novo NovoCare Pharmacy): $149/mo for 1.5 mg and 4 mg (4 mg offer through Aug 31, 2026, then $199/mo); $299/mo for higher doses.

Zepbound (Eli Lilly self-pay): $299 for 2.5 mg; $399 for 5 mg; $449 for 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg when refilled within 45 days.

Ozempic (Novo, type 2 diabetes): $199/mo intro then $349/mo for 0.25/0.5/1 mg doses; $499/mo for the 2 mg dose.

Foundayo (Eli Lilly, FDA-approved April 1, 2026): self-pay starts at $149/mo lowest dose, scaling to higher tiers; $25/mo with eligible commercial insurance; eligible Medicare Part D individuals may pay $50/mo beginning July 1, 2026.

Compounded programs: GobyMeds openly advertises dose-tiered 12-week plans. CoreAge RX and MyStart Health publicly claim flat-rate pricing — both flagged for checkout verification.

4. Lab Fees That Are State-Specific or Refill-Only

9 of 30 providers have lab handling that's separate, state-specific, or refill-only.

Sesame states labs are included in subscription except in some states where lab fees are additional. Walgreens states labs aren't required for the first visit or initial prescription but are required for refills. Join Fridays states all lab tests through Quest Diagnostics are fully included in the monthly subscription with no additional fees. Several programs let you upload outside labs taken within the past 12 months to skip new ones; if your PCP already pulled an HbA1c and comprehensive metabolic panel, that can save $100–$300.

5. Cancellation Friction, Commitments, and Refund Limits

7 of 30 providers have explicit annual or multi-month commitments visible in their public terms.

WeightWatchers Med+ requires a 12-month commitment for the $25/$74 pricing.
Henry Meds states on multi-month plans, the remaining balance is owed if cancelling early unless medically unable to continue; refunds limited to medically ineligible cases.
Found's published offer terms say subscription fees are final and non-refundable to the extent permitted by law.
MEDVi published terms reflect auto-renew with at-least-72-hours-before-next-billing cancellation window.
Sesame annual plan requires 12-month billing cadence to access $59/mo pricing; monthly is $99/mo.

This category isn't just a customer-experience issue — it's a regulatory issue. The FTC's July 2025 enforcement action against telemedicine firm NextMed alleged misleading prices, deceptive cost claims, undisclosed fees, long commitments, cancellation issues, and review manipulation; the final order required clearer cost disclosures and easier cancellation/refund practices. Read the terms. Save them.

Are GLP-1 Medications Included in Telehealth Memberships?

Sometimes, but often not. Across 30 providers in this audit, 22 advertise prices that don't include the medication at the maintenance dose. Three patterns matter, and there's a single best question to ask before you sign up.

Pattern 1 — Membership + medication separate (most common)

Hims, Hers, Ro Body, WeightWatchers Med+, GoodRx Care, Sesame, Walgreens, Lemonaid, Noom Med (branded path), Amazon One Medical. Recurring fee for clinician access + medication billed separately.

Pattern 2 — Bundled compounded (medication included)

GobyMeds, MyStart, MEDVi (mostly), Mochi (line-itemed alongside membership), CoreAge RX. The price covers the medication — no separate dispensing charge. Typically compounded-only or compounded-primary programs.

Pattern 3 — Hybrid

Eden, Henry Meds, Sesame's brand-name path, Noom Med's GLP-1 program path. One bundled price for compounded; separate cash-pay price for brand-name. Read the terms.

The single most useful question to ask a provider before you commit: "At the maintenance dose for the medication you'd prescribe me, what's the all-in monthly cost — membership plus medication plus labs plus shipping?" If they can't answer that in writing, that's information.

For more on insurance coverage and prior authorization, see our GLP-1 telehealth safety checklist.

Cheapest GLP-1 Telehealth Real Cost by Scenario (May 8, 2026)

All paths flagged for checkout verification before they can be promoted to verified. Phase 2 in progress.

Cheapest Cash-Pay Compounded Semaglutide

CoreAge RX publicly advertises compounded semaglutide from $99/month when paid annually with all doses at the same flat rate, no membership fee, no consultation charges, and LegitScript certification. Public-source year-one estimate: $99 × 12 = $1,188, pending checkout verification.

Join Fridays advertises sema from $117/mo with membership and Quest labs included — public-source estimate ~$1,404+ year-one. Mochi Health ($79 membership + $99 sema) lands at $2,136.

For more on compounded options, see our full GLP-1 telehealth comparison.

Cheapest Cash-Pay Compounded Tirzepatide

CoreAge RX publicly advertises tirzepatide from $149/month when paid annually, all doses same price. Public-source year-one estimate: $149 × 12 = $1,788, pending checkout verification.

Join Fridays advertises tirz as low as $198/mo with membership and labs included — year-one estimate ~$2,376+. Mochi Health at $79 + $199 = $278/mo lands at $3,336.

Cheapest Cash-Pay Brand-Name Path (Wegovy, Zepbound, Foundayo)

Brand-name first-year cash cost is going to be at least $3,000–$5,500 even with manufacturer savings programs.

Provider	Path	Est. year-one (cash, with manufacturer offer)
Amazon One Medical	No required membership + Wegovy injection at $299/mo Amazon Pharmacy cash-pay	~$3,588+
Walgreens	$49/visit (cadence varies) + Wegovy injection via Novo offer	~$3,888 medication + visit cost
GoodRx Care	$39/mo care + Wegovy injection via Novo offer ($199 first 2 fills, then $349)	~$4,356
Sesame (annual plan)	$59/mo + Wegovy injection via Novo offer	~$4,596

Last verified: May 8, 2026

Ready to compare providers on your specific medication path and budget? Use our best GLP-1 telehealth providers comparison →

How to Verify the True Cost Yourself Before You Sign Up

If you don't trust our audit (and you shouldn't fully trust any single source on a topic with this much money on the line), here's the protocol we use. About 20 minutes per provider.

Capture the advertised price + qualifier.

Open the homepage and the pricing page. Screenshot the headline number and read the asterisks. Is this a first-month price, a starter-dose price, a membership-only price, or an all-in price?

Complete the intake to checkout — but don't pay.

Sign up with a real email (or a forwarder), answer the medical questions truthfully, and proceed until the page right before payment. Do not provide insurance you don't intend to use. Do not misrepresent your medical history to obtain a prescription.

Screenshot every fee at every step.

Subscription. Medication at the dose proposed. Lab. Shipping. Initial consult. Anything else.

Ask support, in writing, about the four cost drivers.

(a) "Are labs included or billed separately?" (b) "Does the price increase at higher doses?" (c) "Can I cancel month-to-month, and what's your refund policy?" (d) "What is my all-in monthly cost at the maintenance dose?" Save the responses.

Compare the pricing page to the checkout page.

The pricing page is marketing; the checkout is the contract.

Calculate maintenance-month cost.

Take the maintenance-dose monthly figure (membership + medication + labs amortized + shipping) and write it down.

Calculate first-year total.

Using our formula: titration months at titration pricing + maintenance months × maintenance pricing + labs + visits + commitment math.

What This Audit Does Not Tell You

This is a price-transparency audit. It is not medical advice. It is not a clinical-quality ranking. It is not a recommendation about whether you should be on a GLP-1, which medication is right for you, or which provider is clinically best.

Clinical quality and safety beyond regulatory baseline. We record whether the provider publicly names a pharmacy partner and whether that pharmacy can be independently verified. We don't rank clinician quality.
Insurance-billed costs in detail. Coverage, prior authorization, deductibles, copays, and formulary placement vary by plan; we report cash-pay first-year cost as the standardized number.
State-specific availability. Some providers don't operate in all 50 states.
Live pricing. This is point-in-time. Promotional offers expire. Manufacturer cash-pay programs change. The "last verified" date on each row is the contract.
Long-term outcomes. First-year cost ≠ long-term value.
Whether compounded GLP-1 is appropriate for you. Discuss with a licensed clinician.

A Note on Compounded GLP-1 in 2026

Compounded GLP-1 in this audit means a non-FDA-approved compounded drug product dispensed by a state-licensed pharmacy or produced by an outsourcing facility when applicable legal conditions are met. It is not a generic version of Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, Mounjaro, or Foundayo, and the FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing.

The 2026 regulatory posture is materially stricter than the 2024 posture. The FDA determined the tirzepatide injection shortage was resolved on December 19, 2024, and the semaglutide injection shortage was resolved on February 21, 2025, ending the broad enforcement-discretion windows that previously enabled mass-market compounding. On April 1, 2026, the FDA stated that combining semaglutide with another active ingredient like vitamin B12 may still be "essentially a copy" of an approved drug unless a prescriber documents a patient-specific significant difference. On April 30, 2026, the FDA proposed excluding semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from the 503B bulks list. In March 2026, the FDA issued warning letters to 30+ telehealth companies for misleading marketing of compounded GLP-1 products.

For a deeper look at safety and regulatory framing, see our GLP-1 side effects and safety guide.

What Screenshots Can and Cannot Prove

Screenshots can prove:

The price displayed on a date
The membership requirement displayed
Whether medication was shown as included or excluded
The lab-fee disclosure
The dose price disclosure
The cancellation/refund terms language as published
The checkout total before payment

Screenshots cannot prove:

Future pricing
Provider medical quality
Every state's availability
Insurance approval for a specific patient
Whether a clinician will prescribe to a specific patient
Whether a patient should use a medication

How and When We Update This Audit

Full re-auditAnnually (next: 2027 audit)

Spot-checks on top providersQuarterly

Manufacturer cash-pay program changesMonthly check

FDA actionsMonitored monthly; updated within 24–48 hours of major action

FTC/state enforcementMonitored monthly

Public changelog

v1.0 — May 8, 2026: Initial publication. 30 providers compiled from public pricing pages. Standardized fee schema applied. Phase 2 checkout-verification rollout begins with top 10 providers by traffic.

If a provider believes a price, term, or screenshot is outdated or incorrect, send the current public URL, the corrected term, and the effective date to [email protected]. We review, update if verified, and preserve the prior version in this changelog.

For Journalists and Researchers (Press Kit)

Free to use with attribution.

Headline Findings (Suggested for Citation — Phase 1, May 8, 2026)

Across 30 GLP-1 telehealth providers compared on identical fee schema as of May 8, 2026, 22 advertised prices that did not include the medication at the maintenance dose.
18 of 30 providers in the audit charge a recurring membership or care-access fee on top of medication.
11 of 30 providers use first-month, starter-dose, or limited-time pricing in their primary headline number.
9 of 30 providers have lab handling that is separate, state-specific, or refill-only.
7 of 30 providers have explicit annual or multi-month commitments visible in their public terms.
The cheapest Phase 1 public-source starting price is from CoreAge RX, which advertises compounded semaglutide from $99/month and compounded tirzepatide from $149/month, all doses same price, no membership fee, when paid annually.
The advertised-to-first-year gap is calculated per row in the table and will be reported as min/median/max after Phase 2 checkout verification completes.

Suggested Citation Format

Weight Loss Provider Guide. (2026). 2026 GLP-1 Telehealth True First-Year Cost Audit. https://weightlossproviderguide.com/research/glp1-telehealth-true-cost-audit/ — Last verified May 8, 2026, data version v1.0 (Phase 1 — Public-Source Pricing Audit).

Copy-Paste Citation Sentence

"According to Weight Loss Provider Guide's 2026 GLP-1 Telehealth True First-Year Cost Audit, which compared 30 GLP-1 telehealth providers on a standardized fee schema as of May 8, 2026, the advertised first-month price often differed from the verified first-year cash cost once membership, medication at maintenance dose, labs, dose increases, and cancellation terms were included."

Downloads

Download the dataset (CSV) — every row, every cell, last-verified date, source URL
XLSX download — with formulas exposed in a separate tab (coming Phase 2)
JSON download — for programmatic use (coming Phase 2)
Methodology PDF — full formula, fee classification rules, checkout protocol (coming Phase 2)

License & Contact

Dataset published under CC BY 4.0. Use it, embed it, republish charts, build on it. Attribution required.

Research contact: [email protected] — typical response within two business days.

Want to verify our work? Pick any provider in the audit, open the source URL listed, and re-run the checkout using a Privacy.com card.

Embeddable Interactive — GLP-1 Telehealth First-Year Cost Calculator

Select provider, medication path, state, billing cadence, dose path, and lab path; the calculator returns the public-source or checkout-verified first-year cost with itemized fees and links to the source/screenshot evidence. The calculator pulls from the same dataset as this audit. Embed snippet available on request at [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

The true cost of GLP-1 telehealth is the total required first-year cash cost at the maintenance dose, including membership or care-access fees, medication, required labs, required visits, shipping, and unavoidable commitment or cancellation costs. It is not the first-month promo price or the starter-dose price.

Often not. Of the 30 providers in this audit as of May 8, 2026, 22 advertise prices that do not include the medication at the maintenance dose — the price covers care access or membership, with the medication billed separately. We mark "medication included" only when the tested price covers the medication.

The advertised price often describes the first month, the starter dose, the care membership alone, or the medication alone. The checkout typically adds membership, labs, visits, dose-tiered medication pricing, or shipping. None of these are necessarily hidden — but they are easy to miss.

It depends on the provider, the state, and whether you are on the first prescription or a refill. Some include labs (Join Fridays explicitly does for Quest tests), some bill separately, and some are state-specific (Sesame includes labs except in some states where lab fees are additional).

Brand-name programs almost always do — both Novo's Wegovy and Ozempic cash-pay structures and Lilly's Zepbound and Foundayo cash-pay structures are dose-tiered. Some compounded programs publicly claim flat-rate pricing across doses (CoreAge RX, MyStart Health price-lock claim); others advertise dose-tiered 12-week plans (GobyMeds). The audit marks each row.

No. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing. Compounded GLP-1 may be permitted under specific conditions in sections 503A or 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, but FDA enforcement tightened materially in 2026, including warning letters to 30+ telehealth companies in March 2026 and a proposal on April 30, 2026 to exclude semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from the 503B bulks list.

Usually, but terms vary. Some are month-to-month with online cancellation. Others have annual or multi-month commitments, notice windows, non-refundable subscription fees, or require a phone call to cancel. The FTC took enforcement action in this space (NextMed, July 2025), so cancellation language is increasingly important. Read the terms and save them before signing up.

First-year cost captures starter-month discounts, dose-escalation increases, lab requirements, membership commitments, and refill or follow-up costs that a single monthly headline price can hide. A "$99/month" starter-dose price for a medication that costs $349/month at the maintenance dose is a $2,400+ first-year difference.

The full audit is refreshed annually, with quarterly spot-checks on top providers and immediate updates when major provider pricing, FDA guidance, or FTC enforcement actions change. Manufacturer cash-pay programs are checked monthly. The "last verified" date on each row is the contract.

Yes. Use the suggested citation format in the press kit section, include the version date (v1.0, May 8, 2026), and cite the dataset rather than treating any single number as live pricing. The dataset is published under CC BY 4.0.

No. This is a pricing and transparency audit, not medical advice and not a recommendation to use or avoid any specific medication or provider. Consult a licensed clinician about which medication and program is appropriate for your health history.

Send the provider name, the URL of the page or checkout step that was captured, the corrected term, the effective date, and any supporting screenshot to [email protected]. We review, update if verified, and log the change in the public changelog with prior version preserved.

About This Audit

Built by: the Weight Loss Provider Guide research team. No fabricated reviewers, credentials, or "medically reviewed by" claims. Where clinical statements appear (such as maintenance-dose ranges for semaglutide and tirzepatide), we cite published prescribing information and labeling. Where regulatory statements appear, we cite FDA and FTC primary sources directly.

Editorial standards: We follow E-E-A-T principles for YMYL content. We do not treat compounded GLP-1 products as generic versions of FDA-approved drugs, and we do not repeat provider claims that imply FDA approval, sameness, or equivalent safety/effectiveness unless the claim is being documented as a claim made by the provider.

Last full review: May 8, 2026. Data version: v1.0. Audit phase: Phase 1 — Public-Source Pricing Audit (checkout-verified rows added per provider as Phase 2 rolls out). The page URL doesn't change as Phase 2 completes.

Affiliate disclosure (full): Weight Loss Provider Guide has paid affiliate relationships with several providers listed in this audit, including Eden, MEDVi, Ro, ShedRx, and others. Affiliate payouts do not control this audit's findings, ordering, or scoring. If a high-payout affiliate scores poorly on cost transparency, that's what we publish.

True Cost of GLP-1 Telehealth: 2026 First-Year Cost Audit

Bottom Line Up Front

Quick Stats from the Audit (Phase 1, May 8, 2026)

What Is the True Cost of GLP-1 Telehealth in 2026?

Why we use maintenance dose, not starter dose

GLP-1 Telehealth Fee Comparison: 30 Providers

How We Calculate True First-Year Cost at Maintenance Dose

What we include

What we exclude from the main number

A Worked Example — Transparent Math

What We Classify as a Hidden Fee (The Fairness Rules)

Which GLP-1 Telehealth Providers Have Hidden Fees or Separate Required Costs?

The 5 Fee Categories That Drive the Advertised-to-Actual Gap

1. Medication Billed Separately from Membership

2. Mandatory Membership Stacked on Top of Medication

3. Dose-Escalation Upcharges

4. Lab Fees That Are State-Specific or Refill-Only

5. Cancellation Friction, Commitments, and Refund Limits

Are GLP-1 Medications Included in Telehealth Memberships?

Pattern 1 — Membership + medication separate (most common)

Pattern 2 — Bundled compounded (medication included)

Pattern 3 — Hybrid

Cheapest GLP-1 Telehealth Real Cost by Scenario (May 8, 2026)

Cheapest Cash-Pay Compounded Semaglutide

Cheapest Cash-Pay Compounded Tirzepatide

Cheapest Cash-Pay Brand-Name Path (Wegovy, Zepbound, Foundayo)

Cheapest with Insurance That Covers GLP-1

Provider-by-Provider Audit Notes (Alphabetical)

Amazon One Medical

Calibrate

CoreAge RX

Eden

Fella Health

Form Health

Found

FuturHealth

GobyMeds

GoodRx Care

Henry Meds

Hims Weight Loss

Hers Weight Loss

IVIM Health

Join Fridays

Lemonaid Health

LifeMD

MEDVi

Mochi Health

MyStart Health

Noom Med — branded path

Noom Med — GLP-1 program path

OnlineSemaglutide.org / CareGLP

OrderlyMeds

PlushCare

ReflexMD

Ro Body

Sesame (Success by Sesame)

ShedRx (SHED)

Walgreens Weight Management

WeightWatchers Clinic / Med+

Zealthy