Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
HealthOn vs Ascend Medical
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.
HealthOn
Cost-first shoppers comparing HealthOn's monthly, quarterly, and 12-month compounded GLP-1 tiers side by side.
Visit HealthOnAscend Medical
Cost-first shoppers who want georgia or Texas residents who want to bill GLP-1 treatment through insurance rather than pay cash-only compounded pricing.
Visit Ascend MedicalThe verdict
HealthOn and Ascend Medical tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 57/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with HealthOn (ranked #297, a hair above #299) — Cost-first shoppers comparing HealthOn's monthly, quarterly, and 12-month compounded GLP-1 tiers side by side. But Ascend Medical 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 HealthOn.
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 | HealthOn | Ascend Medical |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 57/100 | 57/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $189/mo (1.5 mg dose, compounded) | Not disclosed |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $295/mo (10 mg dose, compounded) | $240/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $2,268 | — |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $3,540 | $2,880 |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | 2 states |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Yes |
| Rank here | #297 | #299 |
HealthOn
57/100Where the value is
- Both compounded semaglutide ($189/mo) and tirzepatide ($295/mo) are priced on their own dedicated product pages, not gated behind an intake
- Quarterly and 12-month prepay options are disclosed with real dollar savings ($549/quarter and $837/quarter respectively)
- Independent third-party batch testing for potency, sterility, pH, and endotoxins is disclosed as a stated policy
The tradeoffs
- The site's sitewide 'Starting at $155/mo*' nav banner is not specific to either medication and requires a 12-month prepay commitment to actually reach — a shopper skimming only the banner will underestimate the real starting cost by $34-140/mo
- No named prescriber, medical director, or specific compounding pharmacy anywhere on the pages checked
Regulatory note: the FDA issued a warning letter to Healthon Inc. dba Healthon in September 2025. We still list and link to HealthOn; you should know the letter is on the public record before you decide.
Ascend Medical
57/100Where the value is
- Can bill through insurance, potentially lowering out-of-pocket cost versus cash-only compounded programs
- No-subscription, pay-per-refill model after the initial 8-week package
- Named metabolic-health chair referenced on the clinical team
The tradeoffs
- Only available to Georgia and Texas residents -- not a national service
- Unclear whether medication is compounded or brand-name; no compounding pharmacy named
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.