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.
The gist
- →Compounded semaglutide runs ~$150–$350/mo; compounded tirzepatide ~$250–$500/mo. Brand without insurance is $1,000–$1,300+.
- →Standard eligibility: BMI 30+, or 27+ with a weight-related condition. No insurance needed for the cash-pay programs.
- →The advertised price is rarely the all-in price — dose level and what is bundled move it the most.
- →Five questions below tell you whether a program is fair before you hand over a card.
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
How much does a GLP-1 actually cost per month online?
Compounded semaglutide runs roughly $150 to $350 a month through telehealth programs. Compounded tirzepatide is higher, typically $250 to $500. Brand-name Wegovy without insurance is $1,300+ and brand Zepbound is over $1,000. With good insurance, brand can drop to $0 to $50, but many plans still exclude weight-loss indications.
What BMI do I need to qualify?
The standard threshold is a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or sleep apnea. Each telehealth program sets its own criteria on top of that, and a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2 is a contraindication.
Do I need insurance to start?
No. The online programs in this sheet are direct-pay, cash-based services. That makes the monthly price predictable and skips insurance pre-authorization, which can take weeks for brand-name GLP-1s.
Why is the advertised price not the price I actually pay?
The headline number is usually a starting dose at a single pharmacy. Your real cost depends on your dose (some programs charge more as you titrate up), and on what is bundled — provider visits, shipping, and supplies are sometimes separate line items. Ask whether the price is flat across doses before you sign up.
How long does it take to get approved?
The intake form takes about 15 to 20 minutes. A licensed provider usually reviews it within 24 to 48 hours. If you qualify, the prescription goes to a compounding pharmacy and medication ships shortly after.
Get the 2026 GLP-1 Cost & Eligibility Cheat Sheet
One page: real monthly costs for compounded vs brand semaglutide and tirzepatide, the BMI thresholds that qualify you, and the five questions to ask before you pay. We'll email it now.
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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
