Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
tru Weight Loss vs MDLive
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.
tru Weight Loss
Patients comfortable committing to 3 months upfront who want a named, credentialed physician rather than an anonymous provider network.
Visit tru Weight LossMDLive
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 MDLiveThe verdict
tru Weight Loss takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 51 to 50. Tru Weight Loss is a GLP-1 program offered by truHealthNow, a Germantown, Maryland primary/urgent care telehealth practice, with named physician Dr. Neha Grover overseeing care. MDLive still earns a C — 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.
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 tru Weight Loss.
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 | tru Weight Loss | MDLive |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 51/100 | 50/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $299/mo (3-month plan, compounded) | Not disclosed |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $399/mo (3-month plan, compounded) | Not disclosed |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $3,588 | — |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $4,788 | — |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Yes |
| Rank here | #404 | #410 |
tru Weight Loss
51/100Where the value is
- Flat, clearly stated monthly pricing with no hidden dose-tier escalation found
- Named, credentialed medical director (Dr. Neha Grover, MD, obesity-management focus) rather than an anonymous network
- Backed by an established local primary/urgent care practice, not a pure drop-ship telehealth startup
The tradeoffs
- Mandatory 3-month minimum commitment before cancellation is allowed -- roughly $900-$1,200 minimum spend
- No insurance, HSA, or FSA accepted
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
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.