Frequently Asked Questions

We look at which providers are most visible to consumers. The ones showing up in Google searches, featured on other review sites, running ads on major publications, and appearing in health news. These are the brands people are most likely to come across, so they're the ones we investigate. From there, we go to each provider's website and look at what's behind the marketing.

• What GLP-1 medications they offer (brand-name, compounded, or both)
• Real pricing, including what happens after the first month
• Whether they accept insurance or if it's cash pay only
• What kind of clinician support is available and how accessible it is
• Customer reviews on Trustpilot and other platforms
• Whether there are hidden fees, membership costs, or charges that aren't obvious upfront
• Pharmacy certifications and third-party verifications like LegitScript
• How long they've been operating and how many patients they've served

Partnerships can influence which offers show up on a page, but they don't change how we assess the provider. Paid placements are labeled. We don't work with providers involved in illegal practices, unlicensed pharmacies, or services we believe could put our readers at risk, regardless of compensation. You can read more about how we handle that in our editorial policy.

No. We're a comparison site. We don't prescribe anything or offer treatment. For medical guidance, talk to a licensed healthcare provider. Our disclaimer page covers this in detail.

Brand-name GLP-1s like Wegovy® and Zepbound® went through FDA clinical trials and carry FDA approval. Compounded GLP-1 medications are prepared by state-licensed pharmacies but have not been reviewed or approved by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. They're not generics and they're not equivalents. Each provider review on our site notes which type is offered.

The provider you choose makes a bigger difference than most people expect. The same medication can cost very different amounts depending on where you get it.

• With insurance, brand-name copays can range from $25 to several hundred dollars a month depending on your plan and prior authorization
• Without insurance, brand-name list prices run $800 to $1,400/month. Novo Nordisk's NovoCare program offers Wegovy® starting at $199/month for new patients on starter doses (intro pricing through 3/31/26), and Eli Lilly's LillyDirect offers Zepbound® at $299 to $449/month depending on dose. These manufacturer programs have expiration dates, so confirm current availability with your provider
• Compounded GLP-1 medications (not FDA-approved) through telehealth providers generally run $130 to $400/month, though those are often first-month rates and ongoing pricing is higher

Pricing changes frequently. Most prices advertised on provider websites are first-month promotional rates and not what you'll pay ongoing. Confirm your actual pricing with your licensed provider after completing their full intake before committing to a program. Some brands also offer a money-back guarantee if you don't qualify. Check our brand reviews to see which ones do.

Yes. Every GLP-1 medication requires a prescription from a licensed provider. Most telehealth providers handle this through a virtual visit where they go over your health history and determine if the medication makes sense for you. No legitimate provider will ship medication without one.

We check pricing on a rolling basis and update pages when we confirm changes. GLP-1 providers update their pricing frequently and often without notice, so we're constantly checking for changes across the providers we cover. We verify pricing against provider websites and have called providers directly when pricing isn't publicly listed. If you spot something that looks outdated on one of our pages, let us know through the contact page and we'll verify it.

Coverage varies and there's no simple answer. Some insurance plans cover FDA-approved GLP-1 medications like Wegovy® or Zepbound® for weight loss, but your insurance company will typically require prior authorization before approving coverage. A few telehealth providers offer help with this process. FuturHealth will provide a letter of medical necessity that you can submit to your insurer, though they don't handle the process for you. WeightWatchers Clinic has an insurance navigation team that handles prior authorization on your behalf, and even has a free cost estimator you can use before signing up.

Many telehealth providers are cash-pay only and don't work with insurance at all. Compounded medications (not FDA-approved) are generally not covered by insurance regardless of provider. If you're unsure about your coverage, call your insurer directly and ask about the specific medication your provider recommends.

Before you enter any payment information, get clear answers on a few things.

• What does month one actually cost, and what happens to the price after that?
• Does the price go up as your dose increases? (Some providers charge more at higher doses, some don't)
• Are labs included or billed separately?
• If you experience side effects, how fast can you reach a real clinician?
• For compounded medications, ask which pharmacy fills it and whether it's a 503A or 503B facility
• What does the cancellation policy look like?

These are the two types of pharmacies that are licensed to prepare compounded medications. A 503A pharmacy fills individual prescriptions for specific patients, one at a time. A 503B outsourcing facility can produce larger batches and operates under direct FDA oversight with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements. Neither type produces FDA-approved medications. Our compounded GLP-1 safety guide goes deeper into what this means for patients.

The most commonly reported side effects are nausea and GI issues like constipation or diarrhea, especially in the first few weeks or after a dose increase. FDA labeling for GLP-1 medications also includes a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors, and notes risks related to pancreatitis and gallbladder complications. This is not a complete list and we can't provide medical advice on side effects. If you experience any, contact your prescribing clinician. Our disclaimer page has more detail.

Usually, yes. Most telehealth providers run month-to-month without long-term contracts. Check the cancellation and refund policy before you sign up. If you already have a prescription from another provider, expect to go through a new evaluation. Most providers require their own intake and consultation before prescribing, even if you're already on a GLP-1.

It starts on the provider's own website. We read through every page we can find, not just the homepage, to understand what they actually offer and how their pricing works. For pricing that isn't publicly listed, we've called providers by phone to confirm rates. Beyond provider websites, we cross-reference claims against FDA notices, peer-reviewed medical journals, clinical trial data, and patient reviews on platforms like Trustpilot and BBB. When we reference a study or statistic, we link to the original source so you can verify where the information came from. Each review page notes when it was last verified.

Our reviews are backed by real research, phone calls to providers, verified pricing, and fact-checking against sources like FDA notices and medical journals. A lot of the information in our reviews isn't easy to find on provider websites, and some of it isn't publicly listed at all. Every review page shows when it was last updated so you can see how current the information is. Where affiliate relationships exist, they're disclosed, and the same evaluation standards apply whether a provider is a partner or not. Our editorial policy and advertiser disclosure go deeper into how that works.

Through our contact page. If you have a question about a specific provider, include the name so we can look into it. If you spotted something that looks wrong or outdated, we want to know.