Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
MD Total Wellness vs Polly
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.
MD Total Wellness
Orange County residents who want a GLP-1 program with in-person visits and monthly follow-ups at a local physician-owned clinic.
Visit MD Total WellnessPolly
Shoppers who understand the pricing is billed weekly and want a flat, dose-independent recurring charge from a named pharmacy.
Visit PollyThe verdict
MD Total Wellness takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 67 to 66. MD Total Wellness is an in-person clinic in Brea, California, charging $299 a month for compounded semaglutide and $399 for tirzepatide at any dose, after a cheaper first month. Polly still earns a C — Shoppers who understand the pricing is billed weekly and want a flat, dose-independent recurring charge from a named pharmacy.
Worth knowing either way: CoreAge Rx is one of our partners and leads our leaderboard, where partners are listed first (Cost-Efficiency Index 94/100). See how it stacks up: CoreAge Rx vs MD Total Wellness.
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 | MD Total Wellness | Polly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 67/100 | 66/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $299/moCompounded, any dose after a $199 first month | $135/week$585/mo equiv. |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $399/moCompounded, any dose after a $299 first month | $199/week$862/mo equiv. |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $3,588 | $7,020 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $4,788 | $10,344 |
| Coverage | California only | All 50 states |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #176 | #179 |
MD Total Wellness
67/100Where the value is
- Prices are published: semaglutide $199 for the first month then $299 at every dose, tirzepatide $299 then $399 at every dose
- Pay-as-you-go monthly pricing with no contract, and the price includes the medication and the care
- Run by a named surgeon, Dr. Oliak, and a physician assistant, with monthly visits to adjust the dose
The tradeoffs
- You need to visit the clinic in Brea, California; telehealth follow-ups are only for established patients
- The lower first-month figures apply to the starting dose only
Polly
66/100Where the value is
- Names two specific 503A partner compounding pharmacies (Hallandale Pharmacy, VialsRx) rather than staying anonymous
- Nationwide all-50 access with flat pricing at every dose
- Displays a LegitScript certification seal
The tradeoffs
- The headline $135/$199 prices are billed WEEKLY, not monthly — the real monthly-equivalent cost is roughly $585 (semaglutide) and $862 (tirzepatide)
- Compounded only — no brand-name or oral route
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.