Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
AZ Health vs Balanced Hormone Health
Two GLP-1 programs on the bench, scored on the same six factors. Here's how their real cost of ownership compares — and which one we'd start with.
AZ Health
Cost-first shoppers who want transparent flat-rate compounded GLP-1 pricing in the roughly half of states it covers, if you confirm eligibility first.
Visit AZ HealthBalanced Hormone Health
Patients who want a named, long-tenured medical advisor and unusually specific, named compounding pharmacy partners.
Visit Balanced Hormone HealthThe verdict
AZ Health and Balanced Hormone Health tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 61/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with AZ Health (ranked #223, a hair above #224) — Cost-first shoppers who want transparent flat-rate compounded GLP-1 pricing in the roughly half of states it covers, if you confirm eligibility first. But Balanced Hormone Health is a genuine coin-flip alternative here.
Worth knowing either way: our overall #1 pick is CoreAge Rx (Cost-Efficiency Index 94/100 — the top of the ranking). See how it stacks up: CoreAge Rx vs AZ Health.
Factor by factor
Both providers scored on our six Cost-Efficiency Index factors. The stronger side on each row is marked in teal.
Normalized Cost/Month
Price Transparency
Nationwide Access
Formulation Options
Clinical Oversight
Contract Flexibility
Pricing, coverage & formulary
The disclosed facts behind the scores. Lower price wins its row (teal).
| Spec | AZ Health | Balanced Hormone Health |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 61/100 | 61/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $179/mo (starting dose, compounded) | $197/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $199/mo (starting dose, compounded) | $499/mo (3 month plan, compounded) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $2,148 | $2,364 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $2,388 | $5,988 |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Yes |
| Rank here | #223 | #224 |
AZ Health
61/100Where the value is
- Transparent flat monthly pricing published up front — semaglutide from $179/mo, tirzepatide from $199/mo, no insurance required
- Discloses plainly that compounded medications are not FDA-approved
- FSA/HSA eligible, free discreet shipping, and cancel-anytime language
The tradeoffs
- Coverage is stated only as '50% States Covered' with no state list published — you cannot confirm eligibility before starting
- The.org domain and thin site (an /faq link 404s) are unusual for a commercial telehealth business and warrant extra caution
Balanced Hormone Health
61/100Where the value is
- Named Medical Advisor with three decades of practice (Dr. Gerstenberg, DO, since 1993)
- Two named, checkable compounding pharmacies (Tailormade Compounding, Striker Pharmacy) rather than a vague 'licensed pharmacy'
- LegitScript Certified badge displayed
The tradeoffs
- Semaglutide price is an explicit 'Starting at' teaser tied to a ~10-week window, not a clear ongoing monthly rate
- Tirzepatide's $499 is a 12-week lump-sum package presented without a per-month breakdown
Assume any provider we list may compensate us — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. It never changes the Cost-Efficiency Index. Pricing, states and verification reflect each provider's public disclosures at last review; prices change — confirm on the provider's site. Not medical advice. See our disclosure.