The Ad Price vs. the Real Price
Every GLP-1 telehealth provider advertises a monthly price. It appears in Google ads, on landing pages, in comparison articles. That number gets you to click. But between the homepage and the checkout confirmation, fees appear — consultation charges, membership dues, shipping costs, supply kits, lab work add-ons. The checkout price is often 15–40% higher than the number that brought you in.
We walked through the sign-up funnel of 12 major providers and documented every line item that appeared between "Get Started" and "Confirm Payment." Here is what we found.
The Six Fee Categories
Add-on fees in GLP-1 telehealth fall into six consistent categories. Not every provider charges every category, but knowing what to look for protects you from sticker shock at checkout:
| Fee Category | Range | How Often | Watch For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultation / provider visit | $0–$150 | One-time or monthly | Some charge per visit; others bundle it |
| Membership / platform fee | $0–$99/mo | Monthly or annual | Billed separately from medication |
| Shipping / cold-chain handling | $0–$29 | Per shipment | Expedited or cold-chain may cost extra |
| Supplies (syringes, alcohol swabs) | $0–$15 | Per shipment | Some bundle; some charge separately |
| Lab work / metabolic panel | $0–$150 | Quarterly or as-needed | Often required but not included in price |
| Enrollment / onboarding fee | $0–$75 | One-time | Sometimes disguised as "account setup" |
Tier 1: Truly All-Inclusive (Ad Price = Checkout Price)
These providers charge one monthly number with no add-ons. What you see on the homepage is what you pay at checkout and every month after.
Advertised: $179/mo. At checkout: $179/mo. Medication, consult, shipping, and supplies are all included. No membership fee. No separate lab charge. The flat-rate promise is genuine — your bill does not change at any dose.
Advertised: $99/mo. At checkout: $99/mo (minus $25 with code x7X72r for first order). Free consult, free shipping. No membership. No hidden line items.
Advertised: $99/mo. At checkout: $99/mo. Flat at every dose. No membership fee layered on top.
Tier 2: Minor Add-Ons (5–15% Above Ad Price)
These providers advertise a low medication price but add modest fees for shipping, supplies, or an initial consultation. The total is still reasonable, but the ad price understates the true cost by $10–$30/month.
Advertised: $149/1st month. Reality: First month is genuinely $149. Subsequent months rise to $299 as dose increases — not hidden, but the "from $149" framing in ads emphasizes the intro rate. Shipping and consult are included.
Advertised: $169/mo. At checkout: Generally matches — wellness consultations bundled. Worth confirming lab requirements during enrollment.
Tier 3: Significant Add-Ons (15–40% Above Ad Price)
These providers advertise a medication price that does not include separately-billed fees. The total monthly cost can be substantially higher than the headline number.
The Membership + Medication Model
Some providers split their pricing into a medication fee and a platform/membership fee. Both are required, but only the medication price appears in ads.
| Provider Model | Ad Price | Membership | True Monthly | Markup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medication-only ad + membership | $75/mo | +$75/mo | $150/mo | +100% |
| Medication-only ad + membership | $99/mo | +$79/mo | $178/mo | +80% |
| First-month promo + recurring | $49 (1st mo) | — | $199+ (month 2+) | +306% |
The membership model is not inherently dishonest — some memberships include genuinely valuable services (coaching, labs, dietitian access). But when the ad says "$75/month" and the actual monthly outlay is $150, the disclosure gap is significant.
💡 Before enrolling, always ask: 'What will my total monthly charge be, including every fee, at my expected maintenance dose?' If the provider cannot answer this question clearly, they are probably structured to surprise you at checkout.
The Checkout Audit Checklist
Use this checklist when evaluating any GLP-1 provider's sign-up flow:
- Does the ad price include the consultation fee? If not, add $50–$150.
- Is there a separate membership or platform fee? If yes, add $49–$99/month.
- Is shipping included? Cold-chain shipping can add $10–$29 per delivery.
- Are supplies included? Syringes, alcohol swabs, and sharps containers should be bundled. If not, add $10–$15.
- Is lab work included or required separately? Metabolic panels run $75–$150 if billed outside the program.
- Is the price flat at all doses? If tiered, calculate the cost at your expected maintenance dose, not the starter dose.
- Is there an enrollment or onboarding fee? Some charge $25–$75 as a one-time setup.
The Transparency Leaders
The providers on our comparison board that consistently match their ad price to their checkout price — with no hidden fees, no membership layers, and no dose-based escalation:
The Bottom Line
The advertised price is a marketing number. The checkout price is reality. The gap between them averages 15–40% across the telehealth GLP-1 market, driven by consultation fees, memberships, shipping, and dose-tier escalation. The best protection is a single question: "What is my all-in monthly cost at maintenance dose?" Providers who answer clearly and simply are almost always the better choice — because they have nothing to hide.
⚠️ Compounded GLP-1 medications are not FDA-approved. Pricing information is based on publicly available data and provider sign-up flows as of July 2026. Always verify current pricing directly with the provider before enrolling.