Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
HeliMeds vs MD Total Wellness
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.
HeliMeds
Shoppers who will pay a discounted 12-week lump sum upfront and understand the price resets higher on reorder.
Visit HeliMedsMD Total Wellness
Orange County residents who want a GLP-1 program with in-person visits and monthly follow-ups at a local physician-owned clinic.
Visit MD Total WellnessThe verdict
HeliMeds and MD Total Wellness tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 67/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers, so choose on fit. HeliMeds: Shoppers who will pay a discounted 12-week lump sum upfront and understand the price resets higher on reorder. MD Total Wellness: Orange County residents who want a GLP-1 program with in-person visits and monthly follow-ups at a local physician-owned clinic.
Worth knowing either way: CoreAge Rx is one of our partners and leads our leaderboard, where partners are listed first (Cost-Efficiency Index 94/100). See how it stacks up: CoreAge Rx vs HeliMeds.
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 | HeliMeds | MD Total Wellness |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 67/100 | 67/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $99/moStarting dose, 3-month plan, compounded | $299/moCompounded, any dose after a $199 first month |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $149/moStarting dose, 3-month plan, compounded | $399/moCompounded, any dose after a $299 first month |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $1,188 | $3,588 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $1,788 | $4,788 |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | California only |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #171 | #176 |
HeliMeds
67/100Where the value is
- Both compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide available, plus a brand Wegovy/Zepbound path on the same platform
- The heavily-discounted 12-week prepay plan is genuinely the cheapest entry point in this comparison set if a buyer can pay $297 or $447 upfront
- Wide state coverage — every US state except California and Alaska, per the site's own terms of service
The tradeoffs
- '$99/mo' and '$149/mo' are not subscription rates — they are a single upfront 12-week charge ($297/$447) divided by three, and the site explicitly says no recurring billing occurs
- Semaglutide reorders after the intro plan cost $239 for just a 4-week supply — nearly 2.5x the advertised headline rate
MD Total Wellness
67/100Where the value is
- Prices are published: semaglutide $199 for the first month then $299 at every dose, tirzepatide $299 then $399 at every dose
- Pay-as-you-go monthly pricing with no contract, and the price includes the medication and the care
- Run by a named surgeon, Dr. Oliak, and a physician assistant, with monthly visits to adjust the dose
The tradeoffs
- You need to visit the clinic in Brea, California; telehealth follow-ups are only for established patients
- The lower first-month figures apply to the starting dose only
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.