Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Basal Health vs Cora 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.
Basal Health
Cost-first shoppers who want a low, clearly-labeled first-month tirzepatide rate — if you can tolerate not knowing what month two costs before you sign up.
Visit Basal HealthCora Health
Shoppers willing to prepay a full year to lock in the lowest per-month rate, who can absorb a $1,188-$1,620 upfront charge.
Visit Cora HealthThe verdict
Basal Health and Cora Health tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 60/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with Basal Health (ranked #247, a hair above #248) — Cost-first shoppers who want a low, clearly-labeled first-month tirzepatide rate — if you can tolerate not knowing what month two costs before you sign up. But Cora 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 Basal 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 | Basal Health | Cora Health |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 60/100 | 60/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $99/mo (first-month rate, compounded) | Not disclosed |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | — | — |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $1,188 | — |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #247 | #248 |
Basal Health
60/100Where the value is
- Stated nationwide coverage — 'all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia' — confirmed in the footer disclaimer
- LegitScript Certified badge displayed
- The $99 first-month price is at least labeled honestly as a first-month rate rather than implied to be the standing price
The tradeoffs
- The $99 figure is explicitly first-month only; the ongoing monthly price is never disclosed anywhere on the public site
- No semaglutide pricing (or confirmation semaglutide is even offered) was found — only tirzepatide is named
Cora Health
60/100Where the value is
- Named Medical Director (Dr. Michael Wasef, MD) and two additional named clinical providers, not an anonymous network
- Two named, PCAB-accredited 503A compounding pharmacies disclosed, including one with a 20+ year operating history
- All-inclusive pricing — no separate membership fee and no per-dose-escalation surcharge
The tradeoffs
- The advertised $99/$135-per-month headline prices require paying $1,188/$1,620 upfront for a full year — a classic prepay-as-monthly presentation; the real month-to-month price is $175/$225
- A reader skimming only the plan-card headline has no way to see the annual commitment without opening the billing fine print
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.