Why Annual Cost Matters More Than Monthly Price
GLP-1 therapy is not a one-month purchase. Most patients remain on medication for 12+ months, and many continue indefinitely. The monthly price advertised by providers captures only a fraction of the cost picture — it does not account for dose-tier increases, onboarding fees, required lab work, or membership charges that accumulate over a full year.
We calculated the realistic 12-month total cost of ownership for eight popular programs, using publicly available pricing and standard titration timelines.
Methodology
For each provider, we calculated the 12-month cost assuming:
- Standard semaglutide titration: months 1–2 at 0.25mg, months 3–4 at 0.5mg, months 5–6 at 1.0mg, months 7+ at 1.7–2.4mg maintenance
- All required fees included: medication, consultation, shipping, enrollment, lab work (if mandated), and membership (if applicable)
- No promotional discounts or referral credits applied (baseline comparison)
The 12-Month Scoreboard
| Provider | Pricing Model | Monthly Range | 12-Month Total | Avg/Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telos Rx (12-mo plan) | Flat (commitment) | $49 | $588 | $49 |
| GobyMeds | Flat | $99 | $1,188 | $99 |
| Trimi (annual) | Flat | $99 | $1,188 | $99 |
| Gala | Flat | $179 | $2,148 | $179 |
| Oak Longevity | Flat | $130 | $1,560 | $130 |
| Embody | Tiered | $149–$299 | ~$2,988 | ~$249 |
| Yucca Health | Tiered | $149–$289 | ~$2,856 | ~$238 |
| Found Health | Flat + membership | $288 | $3,456 | $288 |
Provider-by-Provider Breakdown
Telos Rx — $588/year (12-month plan)
The math: $49/month × 12 = $588. No dose-tier increases, no membership fee. The catch: you are locked into a 12-month commitment. The no-commitment option runs $199/month ($2,388/year). The spread between commitment and no-commitment is $1,800 — the largest in our comparison.
GobyMeds — $1,188/year
The math: $99/month × 12 = $1,188. Flat at every dose. Free consult, free shipping. No membership. Code x7X72r saves $25 on first order, bringing year-one total to $1,163. No commitment required — cancel anytime.
Gala — $2,148/year
The math: $179/month × 12 = $2,148. The simplest cost calculation on the board. Same price at 0.25mg and 2.4mg. Everything included. No commitment.
Embody — ~$2,988/year
The math: Months 1–4 at ~$149 = $596. Months 5–12 at ~$299 = $2,392. Total: ~$2,988. The first-month price is genuine but temporary — by month 5, you are paying the maintenance rate. The metabolic report and 1:1 guidance add clinical value, but the annual cost is 2.5× a flat-rate budget provider.
Found Health — $3,456/year
The math: $189/month medication + $99/month membership = $288/month × 12 = $3,456. The membership is mandatory and includes care-team access and insurance coordination help. Found is one of the most expensive options on a fully-loaded basis, but serves patients who value concierge-level support.
The Annual Savings Gap
| Comparison | Annual Difference | What That Buys |
|---|---|---|
| GobyMeds vs Embody | $1,800/year | 15 extra months of medication at GobyMeds |
| Telos (12-mo) vs Found | $2,868/year | Nearly 5 years of Telos medication |
| Gala vs Found | $1,308/year | 7+ months of Gala medication |
| GobyMeds vs Gala | $960/year | Nearly 10 months of GobyMeds |
💡 The annual difference between the cheapest and most expensive programs on this list exceeds $2,800. Over a three-year treatment period, that gap balloons to $8,600+ — a number large enough to fund a significant financial goal, an emergency fund, or a down payment assist. The medication is the same active ingredient at every provider. The price is not.
What Higher-Cost Programs Include
More expensive programs often include services that cheaper ones do not. Whether those services justify the premium depends on your needs:
| Service | Budget Providers | Premium Providers |
|---|---|---|
| Medication | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Telehealth consult | ✅ Usually included | ✅ Included |
| Shipping | ✅ Usually free | ✅ Free |
| Metabolic panels / labs | ❌ Not included | ✅ Often included |
| Dietitian / nutrition coach | ❌ Not included | ✅ Sometimes included |
| Health coach / care team | ❌ Not included | ✅ Often included |
| Insurance coordination | ❌ Not included | ✅ Sometimes included |
If you would otherwise purchase labs ($150–$300/year), nutrition coaching ($600–$1,200/year), and health coaching ($300–$600/year) separately, a premium provider may represent fair value. If you are self-directed and handle your own nutrition and exercise, the budget option saves you thousands without sacrificing medication quality.
The Bottom Line
Annual cost of ownership ranges from $588 (Telos Rx, 12-month commitment) to $3,456+ (Found Health, medication + membership). The median is roughly $1,800–$2,200. The single most impactful decision is choosing flat-rate vs. tiered pricing — flat-rate providers save $800–$1,800/year compared to tiered alternatives at maintenance doses. Run the 12-month number, not the first-month number, before committing.
⚠️ Compounded GLP-1 medications are not FDA-approved. Pricing reflects publicly available rates as of July 2026 and may change without notice. Always verify current pricing directly with the provider before enrolling.