Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Strut Health vs TeleFirst Med
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.
Strut Health
Anyone optimising total monthly outlay who will keep an auto-refill running, and anyone whose real objection is the needle.
Visit Strut HealthTeleFirst Med
Cost-first shoppers who want tX or NC patients who want a brand-name (not compounded) GLP-1 prescription via a $120 telehealth visit.
Visit TeleFirst MedThe verdict
Strut Health takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 87 to 46. The lowest true entry cost on this board — $99/month sublingual semaglutide — and the only place selling the same molecule as a lozenge or an injection at one price. TeleFirst Med still earns a C — Cost-first shoppers who want tX or NC patients who want a brand-name (not compounded) GLP-1 prescription via a $120 telehealth visit.
Worth knowing either way: our overall #1 pick is CoreAge Rx (Cost-Efficiency Index 94/100 — the top of the board). See how it stacks up: CoreAge Rx vs Strut 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 | Strut Health | TeleFirst Med |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 87/100 | 46/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | From $99/mo sublingual, $149/mo injectable | Not disclosed |
| Tirzepatide / mo | From $199/mo either route | Not disclosed |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $1,188 | — |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $2,388 | — |
| Coverage | 49 states (not Arkansas) | 2 states |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Yes |
| Rank on the board | #4 | #422 |
Strut Health
87/100Where the value is
- Cheapest disclosed monthly cost here at $99/mo for sublingual semaglutide; tirzepatide $199 either route
- Sublingual lozenges for both molecules at the same price as the injection
- Free physician visit, free shipping and free follow-up care included rather than billed separately
The tradeoffs
- The $99 and $149 headline figures require auto-refill — a one-off order costs more, so the true cost depends on staying subscribed
- Asynchronous by design: their FAQ notes some states need no phone consultation, so you may never speak to the prescriber
TeleFirst Med
46/100Where the value is
- Prescribes real brand-name GLP-1 (e.g. Ozempic/Wegovy), not compounded — appealing if you specifically want FDA-approved branded medication
- Simple $120 telehealth evaluation with a licensed doctor; no insurance hassle and no prior authorization
- You fill the prescription at your own regular pharmacy rather than waiting on a mail-order compounding pharmacy
The tradeoffs
- Only Texas and North Carolina are confirmed — not available nationwide
- The $120 is an evaluation fee; the brand-name medication is billed separately at your pharmacy and can be expensive without 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.