Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
MyStart Health vs Lumora
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.
MyStart Health
Shoppers who want a single flat all-inclusive monthly price and don't need semaglutide vs. tirzepatide broken out separately.
Visit MyStart HealthLumora
Cost-first shoppers who want physician-led compounded GLP-1 with labs, follow-up, and peptide options.
Visit LumoraThe verdict
MyStart Health and Lumora tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 49/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with MyStart Health (ranked #418, a hair above #422) — Shoppers who want a single flat all-inclusive monthly price and don't need semaglutide vs. tirzepatide broken out separately. But Lumora 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 MyStart Health.
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 | MyStart Health | Lumora |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 49/100 | 49/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $299/mo (compounded) | $199/mo (starting dose, plus a separate fee, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | Not disclosed | $299/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $3,588 | $2,388 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | — | $3,588 |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | No | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #418 | #422 |
MyStart Health
49/100Where the value is
- Genuinely all-inclusive stated price: physician evaluations, unlimited follow-ups, bloodwork, and shipping are explicitly bundled into the $299 figure with 'no hidden fees'
- Price-lock guarantee explicitly covers dose increases — the FAQ states the price won't rise 'even if your dosage increases'
- Named Chief Medical Advisor (Dr. Ritu Chopra, Beverly Hills MD)
The tradeoffs
- Does not publish separate pricing for semaglutide vs. tirzepatide — $299 is a single blended program price, so it's unclear which drug (or whether both) that figure actually buys
- A sitewide 'Lifetime 25% Off' promo banner is not reconciled against the stated '$299/month excluding any discounts' base price or the price-lock guarantee's 'excluding our first-time discount' exception — genuinely ambiguous what a patient ends up paying long-term
Regulatory note: the FDA issued a warning letter to Matthew Stern, CEO MyStart Health LLC. in September 2025. We still list and link to MyStart Health; you should know the letter is on the public record before you decide.
Lumora
49/100Where the value is
- Compounded semaglutide (5 dose tiers) and tirzepatide (6 dose tiers) in injectable and sublingual forms
- Physician-founded by board-certified Drs. Sean and Shannon Arora (Arora Health & Aesthetics); clinician reviews every assessment
- LegitScript certified, HIPAA compliant, medications dispensed through licensed U.S. pharmacy partners
The tradeoffs
- Pricing is fully gated behind the assessment — no public pricing; actual monthly costs unverifiable without completing intake
- Compounded medications are not FDA-approved; compounding pharmacy partners not publicly named
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.