Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Lumora vs MDExam
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.
Lumora
Cost-first shoppers who want physician-led compounded GLP-1 with labs, follow-up, and peptide options.
Visit LumoraMDExam
Cost-first shoppers who want a lower injectable-semaglutide starting price than the site's own headline claim advertises.
Visit MDExamThe verdict
Lumora and MDExam tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 49/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with Lumora (ranked #422, a hair above #423) — Cost-first shoppers who want physician-led compounded GLP-1 with labs, follow-up, and peptide options. But MDExam 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 Lumora.
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 | Lumora | MDExam |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 49/100 | 49/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $199/mo (starting dose, plus a separate fee, compounded) | $192/mo (compounded) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $299/mo (starting dose, compounded) | $258/mo (compounded) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $2,388 | $2,304 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $3,588 | $3,096 |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #422 | #423 |
Lumora
49/100Where the value is
- Compounded semaglutide (5 dose tiers) and tirzepatide (6 dose tiers) in injectable and sublingual forms
- Physician-founded by board-certified Drs. Sean and Shannon Arora (Arora Health & Aesthetics); clinician reviews every assessment
- LegitScript certified, HIPAA compliant, medications dispensed through licensed U.S. pharmacy partners
The tradeoffs
- Pricing is fully gated behind the assessment — no public pricing; actual monthly costs unverifiable without completing intake
- Compounded medications are not FDA-approved; compounding pharmacy partners not publicly named
MDExam
49/100Where the value is
- Injectable semaglutide at $192/mo undercuts the company's own advertised '$225 as low as' floor
- Accepts insurance for eligible patients in addition to cash-pay options
- 100% refund offered if a patient doesn't qualify after evaluation
The tradeoffs
- The site's own headline claim ('priced as low as $225/month') doesn't match either actual product price — tirzepatide at $258/mo is more expensive than the claimed floor, which should make a shopper distrust the headline number generally
- No specific dose is disclosed for either the $192 or $258 figure, making it impossible to know what's actually being compared
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.