Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
CoreAge Rx vs Vital Step
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.
CoreAge Rx
Anyone who wants one flat monthly price they can plan a full year around, on either molecule, without signing a contract.
Visit CoreAge RxVital Step
Shoppers who want a GLP-1 tablet option in any state and are willing to finish the intake to see the real monthly price before paying.
Visit Vital StepThe verdict
CoreAge Rx takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 94 to 65. CoreAge Rx charges one flat price at every dose, $99 a month for semaglutide and $149 for tirzepatide, with no membership fee. Vital Step still earns a C — Shoppers who want a GLP-1 tablet option in any state and are willing to finish the intake to see the real monthly price before paying.
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 | CoreAge Rx | Vital Step |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 94/100 | 65/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $99/mo | $161/moLowest advertised rate, compounded; the plan behind it and the regular monthly price appear only after the intake |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $149/mo | $198/moLowest advertised rate, compounded; the regular monthly price appears only after the intake |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $1,188 | $1,932 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $1,788 | $2,376 |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Oral / sublingual | No | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #1 | #212 |
CoreAge Rx
94/100Where the value is
- One price at every dose: semaglutide is $99 from 0.25 mg up to 2.5 mg, and tirzepatide is $149 from 2.5 mg up to 15 mg
- No membership fee, no insurance needed and no long-term contract, and the price you lock in at checkout stays put as your dose rises
- If the doctor decides a prescription isn't right for you, CoreAge refunds the medication portion of your payment
The tradeoffs
- Not the lowest price around: 35 of the 434 priced semaglutide programs we track list a cheaper figure, though most attach a term or a step-up that CoreAge does not
- You pay before the doctor reviews your case, and if you aren't approved the FAQ promises a 100% refund while the refund policy keeps a $50 to $100 consultation fee
Vital Step
65/100Where the value is
- Semaglutide and tirzepatide both come as weekly injections or daily dissolving tablets
- Publishes a list of all 50 states it ships to
- Free expedited delivery and round-the-clock support, with side-effect questions and dose adjustments included
The tradeoffs
- Only "as low as" figures are published; the plan length behind $161 and $198 and the regular month-to-month price are shown only after the intake
- No refunds at all: the refund policy says all fees and charges are non-refundable, in whole or in part
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.