Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
MDLive vs Trimrose
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 MDLiveTrimrose
Shoppers who want a named medical director and pharmacy partners plus the option to step up to branded GLP-1s on the same platform.
Visit TrimroseThe verdict
MDLive and Trimrose 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 #415) — 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 Trimrose 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 | Trimrose |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 50/100 | 50/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | Not disclosed | $269/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | Not disclosed | $359/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | — | $3,228 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | — | $4,308 |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | No | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Yes |
| Rank here | #410 | #415 |
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
Trimrose
50/100Where the value is
- LegitScript-verified with a displayed seal
- Named medical directors with public NPI numbers, unusual transparency versus peers
- Four named, identifiable compounding pharmacy partners
The tradeoffs
- All prices are 'starting at' floors -- actual monthly cost rises with dose and is not fully disclosed upfront
- A separate $60 first-visit fee is layered on top of the monthly medication price
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.