Monthly pricing tells you what goes on your credit card statement. But the number that actually matters for your budget is the total cost of treatment over a meaningful period — including every fee, every dose increase, and every add-on that accumulates over time.
We calculated the complete 6-month cost for several GLP-1 treatment scenarios, factoring in everything most patients will encounter during their first half-year of treatment.
What "Everything" Includes
A complete 6-month cost calculation captures six categories that most monthly-price comparisons miss:
| Cost Category | Typical Range | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly medication | $146–$500/mo | Monthly |
| Initial consultation | $0–$100 | One-time |
| Follow-up visits | $0–$50 each | Monthly or quarterly |
| Lab work | $0–$200/panel | 1–2 times in 6 months |
| Shipping | $0–$20/mo | Monthly |
| Dose escalation increase | $0–$200/mo extra | Starts month 2–3 |
Scenario Calculations
Scenario 1: Budget-Tier With Flat Pricing
Provider model: Flat $179/mo, all-inclusive
Medication: $179 × 6 = $1,074
Consultations: included · Labs: included · Shipping: included
Total 6-month cost: $1,074
Gala's flat-rate model makes 6-month cost calculation simple — multiply by six. No escalation fees, no add-on charges.
View Gala →Scenario 2: Promotional First Month, Tiered Ongoing
Provider model: $149 first month, $299/mo ongoing
Medication: $149 + ($299 × 5) = $1,644
Consultations: included · Labs: patient-arranged (~$150) · Shipping: included
Total 6-month cost: ~$1,794
Scenario 3: Bundle Pricing
Provider model: $146/mo semaglutide (6-month bundle)
Medication: $146 × 6 = $876
Consultations: verify with provider · Labs: verify · Shipping: verify
Total 6-month cost: $876 + add-ons
Yucca's 6-month bundle delivers the lowest verified base cost for semaglutide treatment over a half-year period.
View Yucca Health →Scenario 4: Mid-Tier With Dose Escalation
Provider model: $199/mo starting, increases to $299 at higher doses
Medication: ($199 × 2) + ($249 × 2) + ($299 × 2) = $1,494
Consultations: $50 × 3 follow-ups = $150
Labs: ~$150 · Shipping: $15 × 6 = $90
Total 6-month cost: ~$1,884
Notice how a program with a lower starting price ($199 vs $179) can end up costing significantly more over six months ($1,884 vs $1,074) once dose escalation and add-on fees are included.
The HSA/FSA Impact
Every scenario above becomes 20–37% cheaper when paid through an HSA or FSA. For the flat-rate $1,074 scenario, HSA payment at a 35% effective tax rate reduces the real cost to approximately $698 — just $116/month in after-tax dollars for six months of GLP-1 treatment.
See our complete HSA/FSA guide for details on maximizing tax-advantaged savings.
More Options to Compare
Your 6-Month Planning Checklist
Before enrolling, ask your prospective provider: "What will my total cost be over the first six months, including all consultations, lab work, shipping, and any dose-based price increases?" Write down every number.
Build a simple spreadsheet with columns for each cost category and rows for each month. Map out when dose increases are likely to happen and what they'll cost. Include one-time costs (initial consult, baseline labs) in month one.
Compare total costs, not monthly costs. The provider with the lowest month-one price may not have the lowest 6-month total. Our scenarios above demonstrate this clearly.
Factor in your payment method. HSA/FSA payment, promotional pricing, and bundle commitments all change the effective cost. Stack every available discount.
Bottom line: The 6-month total is the number that matters for your budget. Monthly prices are marketing; total costs are reality. Use the scenarios above as templates and fill in the numbers from any provider you're considering.