Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
MDLive vs Nurx
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.
MDLive
Cost-first shoppers who want not a fit for GLP-1 price shopping -- best suited to patients who already have MDLIVE access for general primary care.
Visit MDLiveNurx
Shoppers who specifically want FDA-approved brand-name Wegovy/Zepbound access through an established telehealth brand and don't want a compounded product.
Visit NurxThe verdict
MDLive and Nurx tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 50/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with MDLive (ranked #410, a hair above #411) — Cost-first shoppers who want not a fit for GLP-1 price shopping -- best suited to patients who already have MDLIVE access for general primary care. But Nurx 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 MDLive.
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 | MDLive | Nurx |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 50/100 | 50/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | Not disclosed | $1,379/mo (brand Wegovy) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | Not disclosed | $1,079/mo (brand Zepbound) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | — | $16,548 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | — | $12,948 |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Yes |
| Rank here | #410 | #411 |
MDLive
50/100Where the value is
- Backed by a major, established telehealth/insurance parent (Evernorth/Cigna)
- Access to FDA-approved branded anti-obesity medications, not unregulated compounds
- Broad general primary-care telehealth infrastructure
The tradeoffs
- No dedicated GLP-1 or weight-loss program -- medications are folded into general primary care visits only
- No medication-specific pricing published anywhere
Nurx
50/100Where the value is
- Backed by Thirty Madison, an established telehealth parent company that also runs Keeps and Cove
- Prescribes genuinely FDA-approved brand-name GLP-1s (Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Saxenda, Victoza) rather than a compounded substitute
- Names two Medical Directors on its team page (Dr. Peter Young, Dr. Neil Zlatniski)
The tradeoffs
- Sells NO compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide at any price — a prior dataset's '$179/mo compounded' figure does not describe any product actually on this site
- Nurx's own advertised medication prices ($1,000-$1,300/mo) are Nurx's estimate of what the PHARMACY will charge, not a price Nurx guarantees or collects — actual cost varies by pharmacy and insurance
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.