Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Balanced Hormone Health vs LeanDose
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.
Balanced Hormone Health
Patients who want a named, long-tenured medical advisor and unusually specific, named compounding pharmacy partners.
Visit Balanced Hormone HealthLeanDose
Shoppers in one of its 17 served states who don't mind an undisclosed price increase after month one.
Visit LeanDoseThe verdict
Balanced Hormone Health and LeanDose tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 61/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with Balanced Hormone Health (ranked #224, a hair above #230) — Patients who want a named, long-tenured medical advisor and unusually specific, named compounding pharmacy partners. But LeanDose 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 Balanced Hormone 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 | Balanced Hormone Health | LeanDose |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 61/100 | 61/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $197/mo (starting dose, compounded) | $159/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $499/mo (3 month plan, compounded) | $279/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $2,364 | $1,908 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $5,988 | $3,348 |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #224 | #230 |
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
LeanDose
61/100Where the value is
- Names its actual compounding pharmacy (Striker Pharmacy) unlike most competitors
- Real LegitScript certification badge with verifiable link
- Explicit published states-served list
The tradeoffs
- Headline prices are explicitly 'first month' only -- ongoing renewal price is never disclosed
- Only serves 17 states
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.