Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
MEDGm vs Livea
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.
MEDGm
Readers who want the dispensing pharmacies and the prescribing practices named, and who will price the second month rather than the first.
Visit MEDGmLivea
Cost-first shoppers who want mN/WI residents wanting in-person clinic access, or telehealth patients in MN, WI, IA, or FL.
Visit LiveaThe verdict
Livea takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 62 to 60. Livea is a Minnesota/Wisconsin hybrid clinic-and-telehealth weight-loss brand (legal entity Livea Medical, PLLC) offering compounded semaglutide from $99/mo and tirzepatide from $199/mo 'when available. MEDGm still earns a C — Readers who want the dispensing pharmacies and the prescribing practices named, and who will price the second month rather than the first.
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 Livea.
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 | MEDGm | Livea |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 60/100 | 62/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $299/mo month-to-month (the advertised $179 is the first month only, after an automatically applied coupon) | $99/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $399/mo month-to-month (the advertised $279 is the first month only) | $199/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $3,588 | $1,188 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $4,788 | $2,388 |
| Coverage | All 50 states | 4 states |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Yes |
| Rank here | #203 | #208 |
MEDGm
60/100Where the value is
- Names all four pharmacy partners in its terms, with street addresses, phone numbers and websites, and says which compounding classes they operate under
- Names seven prescribing professional corporations on its consent page rather than referring to an unnamed medical group
- Publishes the full ladder for three GLP-1 routes — injection, oral tablet and tirzepatide — at one, three, six and twelve months
The tradeoffs
- "Starting at $179" is a first-month rate produced by an automatically applied coupon; the standing month-to-month price is $299, and the same shape applies to the oral tablet and to tirzepatide
- The treatments FAQ says "your price never increases" on a plan whose price increases by $120 at the first renewal
Livea
62/100Where the value is
- Hybrid model offers real in-person clinic locations (8 across MN & WI), not telehealth-only
- Low headline starting price for semaglutide ($99/mo)
- Broader wellness service menu (nutrition, hormone therapy, NAD+) beyond just GLP-1s
The tradeoffs
- Tirzepatide explicitly flagged 'when available,' implying inconsistent supply
- No named medical director or specific compounding pharmacy partner
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.