How to Choose the Best Telehealth for GLP-1: Costs Compared
No single telehealth service is best for everyone. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly list providers like Ro, Sesame, and knownwell without endorsing any of them; visits run from $25 with insurance, and Costco members can pay $349 per month self-pay for branded injections.
Semaglutides.org provides information only, not medical advice. Talk to a licensed provider about your own care before making changes. Some telehealth links are affiliate links and are labeled where they appear.
There is no single “best” telehealth service for a GLP-1 prescription, because the right choice depends on three things: whether you have insurance that covers weight-loss drugs, how fast you want a first visit, and whether you want a branded drug or are considering a compounded one. The manufacturers themselves publish lists of independent telehealth providers — Novo Nordisk recognizes eight, and Eli Lilly lists five with published rates from $25 per visit to $149 per month [1][2]. Neither company endorses any of them [1][2]. On the cash-pay side, Costco members can get Ozempic or Wegovy injections for $349 per month at Costco Pharmacy, no insurance needed, with a prescription they can obtain through Sesame’s online program [6]. Amazon One Medical lists cash-pay injectables starting at $299 per month [5]. Ro charges $39 for the first month and $149 per month ongoing for its membership, and that fee does not include the medication [3].
One distinction drives most of the cost and risk differences. Some platforms sell compounded versions of semaglutide or tirzepatide, which the FDA says are not reviewed for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing [8]. Others prescribe only FDA-approved branded drugs and either bill insurance or offer cash-pay pricing. A third group — clinical practices like knownwell — operates like a regular medical practice that happens to be virtual, billing commercial insurance or Medicare per visit [2]. Lilly’s page states that its listed providers apply their own independent clinical judgment and that Lilly does not endorse or recommend them [2]. Novo’s page states that Novo Nordisk operates independently and does not endorse the listed providers [1]. Lilly also notes that the rates its listed providers report exclude medication costs and may vary [2].
One disclosure before the comparisons: this page has no affiliate or commercial relationships with any company named here, and no link on it earns a commission. Affiliate relationships are common in the category — Novo Nordisk’s own link to eMed carries affiliate tracking in its URL [1] — so it is worth checking links and disclosures on any comparison page you read.
Which telehealth companies do the drugmakers list?
Novo Nordisk’s NovoCare “find a doctor” page recognizes eight independent telehealth providers: 9amHealth, eMed, Form Health, knownwell, LifeMD, Ro, Sesame, and WeightWatchers [1]. Novo’s wording is that these providers are recognized “for legitimate medicine sourcing and patient support” [1]. The page also carries a clear disclaimer: the list is a courtesy, not an endorsement; Novo receives no compensation for referrals; and the companies are not incentivized by Novo to prescribe Novo products [1].
Eli Lilly’s telehealth page for obesity care lists five options: General Medicine, Counsel Health, Sesame, WeightWatchers, and knownwell, with a headline range of “$25/visit to $149/month” [2]. Lilly’s disclaimer mirrors Novo’s on the endorsement point: the providers apply independent clinical judgment, and Lilly does not endorse or recommend them [2].
Sesame, WeightWatchers, and knownwell appear on both lists [1][2]. Ro appears only on Novo’s list [1]. Form Health, 9amHealth, and eMed appear only on Novo’s list, not Lilly’s [1][2]. Notably, no compounding-first platform appears on either manufacturer’s list [1][2]. Novo’s listed providers offer payment options tagged as insurance, HSA/FSA, and cash [1].
What do the Lilly-listed providers charge, and how fast can you be seen?
Lilly publishes self-reported rates and average wait times for its five listed providers. These are visit or membership fees only — medication is extra, and Lilly says rates may vary [2].
| Provider | With insurance | Self-pay | Annual pricing | Avg. time to first visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Medicine | $25/visit (average); commercial, Medicare, Medicaid | $30 per chat visit | — | 12 hours |
| Counsel Health | Not listed | $29/visit | $25/month | 15 minutes |
| Sesame | Not listed | $99/month | $59/month | 1 hour |
| WeightWatchers | Not listed | $149/month | $74/month | 2 days |
| knownwell | $31/visit (average); commercial and Medicare | $299/visit | — | 10 days |
The spread is wide. Counsel Health is chat-first: a medical AI gathers your history, then a physician joins to evaluate and prescribe, with an average wait of 15 minutes [2]. knownwell, at the other end, averages 10 days to a first visit but is a physician-led practice that accepts commercial insurance and Medicare [2]. WeightWatchers is a membership program with clinical GLP-1 support and a dietitian team [2].
What does Ro charge, and what does it prescribe?
Ro’s Body membership costs $39 for the first month, then $149 per month on a monthly plan, or as low as $74 per month if you prepay for a full year [3]. The medication is not included — Ro states plainly that GLP-1 medication cost depends on your treatment and insurance coverage [3].
Ro’s catalog includes the Wegovy pen, the Wegovy pill, the Zepbound pen, Zepbound KwikPen, Ozempic, and Foundayo (orforglipron) as a pill [3]. Ro lists the Wegovy pill, Zepbound KwikPen, and Foundayo as cash-pay only, while the Wegovy pen, Zepbound pen, and Ozempic can go through insurance or cash-pay [3]. Ro notes that Ozempic is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes but may be prescribed off-label for weight loss at a provider’s discretion [3].
On timing, Ro says you get an eligibility answer within 2 days, a first dose in under a week if paying cash, and about two weeks if using insurance [3]. If your plan requires prior authorization, Ro’s insurance concierge submits the paperwork, a process Ro states takes about 2–3 weeks [3]. Ro also claims members average 11–20% body-weight loss over a year versus about 2–3% with diet and exercise alone — that is a company figure based on manufacturer trials in specific populations, not a guarantee for any individual [3]. Ro appears on Novo’s recognized telehealth list [1].
What does the Wegovy or Ozempic cash route through Costco and Sesame cost?
The Costco and Sesame route is a Costco member benefit: self-pay patients pay $349 for a 4-week supply of Ozempic or Wegovy injections at Costco Pharmacy, no insurance needed, with an active prescription [6]. The discount comes from a direct partnership between Costco and Novo Nordisk [6]. Patients new to treatment pay $199 per month for the first two months at the lowest two doses [6]. For comparison, Amazon One Medical separately lists cash-pay injectables, including Wegovy and Zepbound, starting at $299 per month [5].
For context, Sesame cites reference list prices of about $968 per month for Ozempic and about $1,349 per month for Wegovy [6].
To get the prescription, you activate Costco member perks on Sesame’s site, then join Success by Sesame, Sesame’s online weight-loss program, where a licensed clinician determines whether medication is appropriate [6]. If prescribed, the medication is sent to your local Costco Pharmacy for pickup at the discounted price [6]. Costco Executive Members and holders of the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi get an additional 2% reward on the purchase, subject to terms [6].
Separately, Sesame’s obesity-care membership as listed by Lilly costs $99 per month, or $59 per month on annual pricing [2]. That membership fee covers the virtual care, not the medication [2]. Costco members also get other Sesame rates: $29 virtual primary care visits, $79 virtual therapy, and $72 health check-ups [6]. Sesame separately publishes self-pay figures of $349 per month for Wegovy injections and $299 per month for the Wegovy pill — these are Sesame’s cash prices, not manufacturer list prices [6].
What does Amazon’s GLP-1 program cost?
Amazon One Medical announced a GLP-1 management program on April 21, 2026, integrating obesity care with Amazon Pharmacy fulfillment [5]. Insured pricing starts as low as $25 per month [5]. For cash-pay patients, oral GLP-1s start at $149 per month, and injectables — including Wegovy and Zepbound — start at $299 per month [5]. These are Amazon’s self-pay prices, not manufacturer list prices [5].
The program includes on-demand prescription renewals at $29 for a message consultation and $49 for video [5]. Amazon plans to expand same-day drug delivery to 4,500 cities by the end of 2026 [5]. Medications named include Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy plus newer oral GLP-1 options, and Lilly’s Zepbound injectable [5]. On the announcement day, shares of Hims & Hers, Viking Therapeutics, Amgen, and Septerna fell as investors weighed competition [5].
Are there telehealth options that bill insurance like a regular doctor’s office?
Yes. On Lilly’s listing, knownwell is described as weight-inclusive primary and obesity care from physicians, virtual or in-person [2]. It offers virtual care nationwide and in-person visits in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, and New York City [7]. Per the Lilly listing, knownwell accepts commercial insurance and Medicare, averaging $31 per visit with coverage, versus $299 per visit self-pay [2].
General Medicine is another insurance-first option: video or message visits with a board-certified physician, covered by most insurance plans, averaging $25 per visit across commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid, with self-pay at $30 per chat visit [2]. Form Health, 9amHealth, and eMed also appear on Novo’s recognized list [1][2].
How does the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge $50 copay work?
The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge runs July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 for eligible Part D beneficiaries [7]. Enrollees pay a flat $50 copay per monthly supply, every fill, regardless of which phase of the Part D benefit they are in [7].
Eligibility is BMI-based: a BMI of 35 or above qualifies on its own; a BMI of 30 or above qualifies with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), uncontrolled hypertension, or chronic kidney disease stage 3a or higher; a BMI of 27 or above qualifies with pre-diabetes, a prior heart attack, a prior stroke, or symptomatic peripheral artery disease [7]. Prior authorization is required — Medicare will not automatically enroll anyone [7].
Eligible plan types include standalone prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage coordinated care plans with drug coverage (HMO, HMOPOS, and local and regional PPO), plus Special Needs Plans, employer/union group waiver plans, and LI NET [7]. One important exception: if your indication is coverable under Part D itself — Zepbound for sleep apnea, Wegovy for cardiovascular risk reduction or MASH, or type 2 diabetes drugs — the Bridge does not apply, and coverage continues under your plan’s standard formulary [7]. Medicare previously covered GLP-1s only for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk reduction, or moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea [7].
Two cost caveats: the $50 Bridge copay does not count toward TrOOP or the Part D out-of-pocket maximum, and Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help) does not reduce it [7]. The standard Part D path instead involves a deductible up to $615 in 2026, tier-based cost sharing, and an out-of-pocket maximum of $2,100 in 2026 [7]. Lilly notes its listed telehealth providers can support eligible Part D patients through the Bridge [2]. For questions, Medicare’s line is 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or you can contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program [7].
What should I watch for in telehealth sites selling compounded GLP-1s?
The FDA has warned telehealth companies about false or misleading claims for compounded drugs, including GLP-1s, saying such claims violate federal law and prevent patients from making informed decisions [8]. Compounded drugs are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing [8].
Specific marketing claims the FDA flags include: branding that implies the telehealth company itself is the compounder; calling a compounded drug a generic version of, or the same as, an FDA-approved drug; claiming a compounded drug is FDA-approved or has been evaluated for safety and effectiveness; claiming it is “clinically proven to produce the same result” as the approved drug; and claiming it is “sourced from an FDA-approved” or FDA-licensed facility [8]. If a site repeats language like “same active ingredient as Ozempic” in a way that implies equivalence, that is the kind of copy the FDA calls false or misleading [8].
You can search the term “telehealth” in the FDA’s warning letter database to find warning letters the agency has issued to telehealth companies [8]. No compounding-first platform appears on either manufacturer’s recognized list [1][2].
What about Hims & Hers?
Hims & Hers describes itself in its earnings release as “the leading global health and wellness platform” [4]. Its Q2 2026 results show revenue of $753.2 million, up 38% year over year, and about 2,891,000 subscribers, up 19% [4]. The company posted a net loss of $86.3 million for the quarter versus net income of $42.5 million a year earlier, with gross margin falling to 64% from 76% [4]. Monthly revenue per average subscriber was $92 [4]. Full-year 2026 guidance is revenue of $3.1–$3.3 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of $275–$325 million [4].
Hims & Hers does not appear on Novo’s or Lilly’s recognized telehealth lists [1][2]. Its current GLP-1 pricing was not available in the materials reviewed here, so no price can be quoted.
What hidden fees and pricing tricks should I check?
The most common one: the membership or visit fee is almost always separate from the medication. That is true on Ro and on every rate Lilly publishes [2][3]. A “$99 per month” membership covers the care, not the drug — and the drug price is set by a separate program, whether that is insurance, a pharmacy cash price, or a seller’s self-pay rate [2][3][6].
The second trick: the lowest advertised monthly figures are usually annual-prepay rates. Ro’s “as low as $74 per month” requires prepaying a year; the ongoing monthly price is $149 [3]. Sesame’s $59 per month is annual pricing versus $99 monthly; WeightWatchers’ $74 is annual versus $149; Counsel Health’s $25 per month is annual pricing versus $29 per visit [2].
Third, insurance is usually cheapest where coverage exists: $25–$31 average visit costs at General Medicine and knownwell compare with $30–$299 self-pay on the same list [2]. Fourth, wait times vary enormously — from 15 minutes at Counsel Health to 10 days at knownwell — so a cheap option may not be a fast one [2].
How should I judge any GLP-1 comparison page, including this one?
Check three things. First, whether the page discloses affiliate relationships — they are common, and even Novo’s own eMed link carries affiliate tracking [1]. This page has no affiliate or commercial relationships with the companies named here. Second, whether cash prices are labeled as the seller’s self-pay price rather than presented as manufacturer list prices; Sesame, for example, cites reference list prices of about $968 per month for Ozempic and $1,349 per month for Wegovy [6]. Third, whether the page repeats vendor copy implying a compounded drug is equivalent to an FDA-approved one — the FDA calls that false or misleading [8].
Also confirm what a price actually includes. Lilly’s listed rates exclude medication [2], Ro’s membership excludes medication [3], and the Costco $349 price requires an active prescription but covers the drug itself [6]. Adding the visit or membership fee to the drug cost is the only way to know your real monthly total.
Sources
- NovoCare. Find a doctor to help with weight loss treatment.
- LillyDirect. Telehealth options for obesity.
- Ro. Weight loss - Ro Body membership.
- Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Hims & Hers Health, Inc. reports second quarter 2026 financial results.
- CNBC. Amazon launches GLP-1 weight loss program, promising ‘fast, convenient’ access. April 21, 2026.
- Sesame. Costco members can now get half-priced Ozempic and Wegovy prescriptions through Sesame.
- knownwell. Medicare coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs.
- US Food and Drug Administration. FDA to telehealth companies: what to know when promoting compounded drugs.
- Mochi Health. Compounded semaglutide for weight loss.
- MobiHealthNews. Eli Lilly sues four telehealth companies for selling copycat drugs. April 25, 2025.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Warning letter: MEDVi, LLC dba MEDVi. February 20, 2026.
- Ivim Health. GLP-1 pricing page.
- Federal Trade Commission. FTC approves final order against telehealth provider NextMed over charges it used deceptive advertising claims to sell GLP-1 weight-loss programs. December 2025.
- NovoCare. Wegovy (semaglutide) online pharmacy.
- Center for Connected Health Policy. State telehealth policies for online prescribing.
- CNBC. Hims and Hers shares fall 10% as FTC sues company over data, billing practices. July 29, 2026.
- Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Hims & Hers responds to FTC lawsuit.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Coming soon: CMS to provide $50 monthly access to GLP-1 medications for Medicare beneficiaries. May 6, 2026.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Warning letter: Ivim Services LLC dba Ivim. February 20, 2026.
- Mealey’s. Mealey’s drugs & devices legal news and analysis.
- yourNEWS. Lawsuits raise new questions about compounded weight-loss drugs and telehealth providers. September 4, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is a telehealth GLP-1 prescription cheaper with or without insurance?
Usually cheaper with insurance where coverage exists. General Medicine averages $25 per visit and knownwell $31 per visit with insurance, versus $30 and $299 respectively self-pay. Ro's insurance concierge handles prior authorization, a process Ro states takes about 2–3 weeks. If your plan does not cover weight-loss drugs, cash-pay routes such as Costco Pharmacy's $349 per month member price are an option.
What are the cheapest ways to get branded Wegovy or Ozempic online?
Two verified cash routes exist. Costco members pay $349 for a 4-week supply of Ozempic or Wegovy at Costco Pharmacy, no insurance needed, through a direct Costco–Novo Nordisk partnership; new patients pay $199 per month for the first two months at the lowest doses. Amazon One Medical lists cash-pay injectables, including Wegovy and Zepbound, starting at $299 per month.
Do Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly endorse the telehealth companies they list?
No. Both explicitly disclaim endorsement. Novo says its list is a courtesy, that it receives no referral compensation, and that listed companies are not incentivized to prescribe Novo products. Lilly says listed providers apply independent clinical judgment and that Lilly does not endorse or recommend them. The lists are a sourcing signal, not a stamp of approval.
Is compounded semaglutide from a telehealth site FDA-approved?
No. The FDA states that compounded drugs are not reviewed for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing, and are not FDA-approved. The FDA warns against marketing that calls a compounded drug a generic version of, the same as, or clinically proven to match an FDA-approved drug. No compounding-first platform appears on either manufacturer's recognized telehealth list.
How does the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge $50 copay work, and who qualifies?
From July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027, eligible Part D beneficiaries pay a flat $50 copay per monthly supply, every fill. Qualifying is BMI-based: BMI 35 alone; BMI 30 plus HFpEF, uncontrolled hypertension, or CKD stage 3a+; or BMI 27 plus pre-diabetes, prior MI, prior stroke, or symptomatic peripheral artery disease. Prior authorization is required, and the copay does not count toward the out-of-pocket maximum.
Do I need a Costco membership for the $349 Wegovy price?
The published route requires one. Sesame presents the $349 price as a Costco member benefit, and you activate Costco member perks on Sesame's site before joining Success by Sesame to get the prescription. The discounted price itself then applies at Costco Pharmacy with an active prescription, no insurance needed. Costco Executive Members and Costco Anywhere Visa holders get an extra 2% reward on the purchase.
What does Ro's membership cover, and is medication included?
Ro Body costs $39 for the first month, then $149 per month ongoing, or as low as $74 per month on annual prepay. It includes provider access, insurance concierge and prior authorization help, coaching, and tracking — but not the medication, whose cost depends on treatment and coverage. Ro says cash-pay patients can get a first dose in under a week; insurance runs about two weeks.
What does Amazon's GLP-1 program cost?
Amazon One Medical's GLP-1 management program, announced April 21, 2026, combines virtual and in-person visits with Amazon Pharmacy fulfillment. Insured pricing starts as low as $25 per month; cash-pay oral GLP-1s start at $149 per month, and injectables including Wegovy and Zepbound start at $299 per month. On-demand renewals cost $29 by message or $49 by video.
This article summarizes FDA labeling, published research and company information current as of September 14, 2026. It is not medical advice and does not replace a conversation with your own healthcare provider. How we research and verify.