Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
MDExam vs Willow
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.
MDExam
Cost-first shoppers who want a lower injectable-semaglutide starting price than the site's own headline claim advertises.
Visit MDExamWillow
Cost-first shoppers who want an oral-tablet GLP-1 option at the same price as the injectable, with no annual commitment.
Visit WillowThe verdict
MDExam and Willow tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 49/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with MDExam (ranked #423, a hair above #429) — Cost-first shoppers who want a lower injectable-semaglutide starting price than the site's own headline claim advertises. But Willow 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 MDExam.
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 | MDExam | Willow |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 49/100 | 49/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $192/mo (compounded) | Not disclosed |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $258/mo (compounded) | Not disclosed |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $2,304 | — |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $3,096 | — |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | No | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #423 | #429 |
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
Willow
49/100Where the value is
- Oral tablet formulations of both semaglutide and tirzepatide, priced identically to the injectable versions ($299/mo and $399/mo respectively) — a genuine format choice most compounded-drug competitors don't offer
- Month-to-month billing with no prepay or annual term required to get the advertised rate
- Named physician team publicly listed, including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Green, MD, plus 11+ other credentialed MDs/DOs
The tradeoffs
- Only 34 states served — notably narrower than WeightlessRx's 49-state footprint; residents of the other 16 states plus DC are excluded
- Site states medication cost 'varies by dosage and prescription' but never discloses what a higher maintenance dose actually costs beyond the $299/$399 starting figures
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.