The Compound — Cheat Sheet
The 2026 GLP-1 cost & eligibility cheat sheet
Everything you need before you pay for a GLP-1, on one page: the real monthly cost ranges, who actually qualifies, what the online intake checks, and the questions that separate a fair program from an upsell. No fluff, all figures pulled from our cost pages.
1. What it actually costs per month
The number a program advertises is usually a starting dose at one pharmacy. What you pay depends on your dose and what is bundled. Here are the real ranges, cash-pay through online telehealth versus brand-name without insurance.
| What you're buying | Monthly cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Compounded semaglutide (online) | ~$150–$350/mo | Cash pay, most online programs |
| Wegovy (brand, no insurance) | ~$1,300+/mo | Novo Nordisk list price |
| Ozempic (brand, off-label) | ~$900+/mo | Off-label for weight loss |
| Wegovy (with good insurance) | $0–$50/mo | If covered; many plans exclude it |
| What you're buying | Monthly cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Compounded tirzepatide (online) | ~$250–$500/mo | Cash pay, varies by state and supply |
| Zepbound (brand, no insurance) | ~$1,000+/mo | Eli Lilly list price |
Prices are estimates from publicly available data. Verify current rates on each provider's site. Full breakdowns: semaglutide cost and tirzepatide cost.
2. Whether you qualify
Telehealth programs follow the same FDA-aligned criteria, then layer their own rules on top. If you can check all four boxes, you almost certainly clear the medical bar — the rest is choosing a program.
- ✓BMI 30 or higherThe primary threshold. A BMI of 30+ qualifies as obesity under standard clinical guidelines.
- ✓BMI 27–29.9 plus a qualifying conditionStill eligible with a weight-related condition: high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or obstructive sleep apnea.
- ✓No contraindicationsNo personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2. Active pancreatitis, severe kidney disease, or pregnancy can also disqualify you.
- ✓18 or olderMajor online programs serve adults only.
3. How the intake works
No referral, no in-person visit. You fill out a health questionnaire (15–20 minutes), a licensed provider reviews it (usually within 24–48 hours), and if you qualify the prescription goes to a compounding pharmacy that ships to your door. Refills are either automatic or a quick monthly check-in. Our full eligibility guide walks through each step.
4. Five questions to ask before you pay
The gap between a fair program and an upsell is in the fine print, not the headline price. Ask these before you enter a card.
- 1Is the price flat across all doses, or does it climb as I titrate up?
- 2What is bundled — provider visits, shipping, and supplies — and what is billed separately?
- 3Is it compounded or brand, and which pharmacy fills it?
- 4Do you ship to my state, and how fast is the first delivery?
- 5What happens at refill — automatic, or a monthly check-in?
Once you know your numbers, the next step is matching them to a program. We keep a side-by-side breakdown of the ones worth applying to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- Semaglutide online cost — compounded vs brand ($150–$350/mo vs $1,300+ Wegovy)
- Tirzepatide online cost — compounded vs Zepbound ($250–$500/mo vs $1,000+)
- How to qualify for semaglutide — BMI thresholds and intake steps
- Wegovy (semaglutide) Prescribing Information — Indications (BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with a weight-related condition), U.S. FDA
