Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
JumpstartMD vs Medical Health Institute
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.
JumpstartMD
Cost-first shoppers who want california residents who want an established in-person clinic option with telehealth backup, prescribing brand-name (not compounded) GLP-1s.
Visit JumpstartMDMedical Health Institute
Shoppers comparing across TRT, peptides, and weight loss under one provider who don't need public pricing detail up front.
Visit Medical Health InstituteThe verdict
JumpstartMD and Medical Health Institute tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 68/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with JumpstartMD (ranked #118, a hair above #125) — Cost-first shoppers who want california residents who want an established in-person clinic option with telehealth backup, prescribing brand-name (not compounded) GLP-1s. But Medical Health Institute 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 JumpstartMD.
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 | JumpstartMD | Medical Health Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 68/100 | 68/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $107/mo (starting dose, brand-name) | $100/mo (all doses, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $173/mo (starting dose, plus a separate fee, brand-name) | Not disclosed |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $1,284 | $1,200 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $2,076 | — |
| Coverage | 1 state | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #118 | #125 |
JumpstartMD
68/100Where the value is
- Long-established, well-known clinic chain with real physical locations, not just a telehealth storefront
- Prescribes FDA-approved BRANDED medications rather than compounded versions
- LegitScript seal confirmed in footer
The tradeoffs
- Geographically limited -- essentially California/Bay-Area only for in-person care
- Combined membership + medication pricing structure makes true cost comparison harder
Medical Health Institute
68/100Where the value is
- Advertises a competitively low $100/mo entry price for GLP-1 weight loss
- Offers multiple service lines (weight loss, TRT, peptide therapy) under one provider
- LegitScript and HIPAA-compliance badges both displayed on the homepage
The tradeoffs
- The $100/mo headline price carries the company's own asterisk — '*Based on pharmacy availability' — meaning it is explicitly not a guaranteed rate before intake
- No dose tier or even which drug (semaglutide vs. tirzepatide) the $100 figure applies to is disclosed anywhere public
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.