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Medical weight loss clinics: what they offer and cost

A medical weight loss clinic is a practice where a licensed clinician assesses your weight and health, may prescribe medicine such as a GLP-1, and follows up over time. In 2026 the medicine is usually the biggest cost: brand self-pay prices run from $149 a month for the starting Wegovy pill dose to $449 a month for Zepbound at 7.5 mg and above, checked October 17, 2026 [1][2]. Program and visit fees come on top.

Updated Oct 17, 2026By the Wellchosen Health editorial team

Medical review: pending. A licensed clinician has not yet reviewed this page.

Medical weight loss is treatment of obesity or overweight supervised by a licensed clinician, which can include prescription medicine, nutrition counseling and regular follow-up.

Lowest brand self-pay price
$149 a month: Wegovy pill 1.5 mg [1] and Foundayo 0.8 mg [3], checked Oct 17, 2026
Zepbound self-pay
$299 to $449 a month on LillyDirect, with refills inside 45 days for the top price tier [2]
Program fees seen online
$19.99 a month membership plus a $129 first visit (PlushCare) up to $299 a month (Form Health), medicine extra [4][5]
Medicare
$50 a month copay through the GLP-1 Bridge, July 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027, for eligible Part D enrollees [6][7]
Medicaid
13 state programs covered GLP-1s for obesity as of January 2026 [8]

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What a medical weight loss clinic does

The core of any program is a prescriber who takes a medical history, checks your weight and health conditions, decides whether a medicine fits, and adjusts the dose over months. Three GLP-1 medicines covered here are FDA-approved for long-term weight management in adults: Zepbound (tirzepatide), Wegovy (semaglutide, as a weekly shot or a daily pill) and Foundayo (orforglipron, a daily pill) [9][10][11]. Each label pairs the drug with a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity. Ozempic and Mounjaro use the same active ingredients as Wegovy and Zepbound but are labeled for type 2 diabetes and are not approved for weight loss [12][13].

A solid program usually includes:

  • A first visit with a named clinician who reviews your history. Thyroid cancer history matters: GLP-1 labels carry a boxed warning and rule out use in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 [14].
  • Lab work when needed, with the cost stated up front.
  • A dose plan that follows the label. Zepbound, for example, starts at 2.5 mg weekly and steps up by 2.5 mg no faster than every 4 weeks [9].
  • Follow-up visits to manage side effects, most often nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation [14].
  • Nutrition or coaching support, and a named pharmacy that fills the prescription.

Types of programs and what they charge

Program types, with example prices checked October 17, 2026
Program typeWhat you getExample priceSource
Brand-only online programClinician visits online, prescription for Wegovy, Zepbound, Foundayo or Ozempic; membership and medicine billed separatelyRo: $39 first month, then $74 to $149 a month membership, plus medicineRo pricing page [15]
Online program with a dietitianMonthly clinician and registered dietitian video visits, messaging, app; labs and medicine extra; HSA and FSA eligibleForm Health: $299 a monthForm Health FAQs [5]
Pay-per-visit telehealthVisit with a clinician, prescription sent to your pharmacyPlushCare: $129 first visit without insurance, $19.99 a month membershipPlushCare [4]
Compounded-drug online programBundled monthly price that includes a compounded drug, which is not FDA-approvedFound: compounded semaglutide $289 per 28 days on a 1-month cash plan; labs excludedFound offer terms [16]
In-person clinic or hospital programOffice visits, labs, sometimes body composition tests and dietitian visitsNo published price ranges could be confirmed for this pageAsk for a written price list
Prices are what each company showed on October 17, 2026. They change often. Our reviews add each company's FDA letter and BBB record.

Compounded GLP-1s are not FDA-approved, and FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality [17]. Read compounded tirzepatide and compounded semaglutide before you sign up for a bundled price.

What the medicine costs on its own

Brand GLP-1 self-pay prices, checked October 17, 2026
MedicineSelf-pay price per monthWhereSource
Zepbound vial or KwikPen$299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg), $449 (7.5 to 15 mg if refilled within 45 days)LillyDirect[2]
Wegovy pen$199 for the first two fills of 0.25 or 0.5 mg, then $349; 7.2 mg $399NovoCare Pharmacy and partner pharmacies[1]
Wegovy pill$149 (1.5 mg), $199 (4 mg), $299 (9 and 25 mg)NovoCare, retail pharmacies[1]
Foundayo pill$149 (0.8 and 2.5 mg), $199 (5.5 mg), $299 (9 to 17.2 mg)LillyDirect[3]
Ozempic pen (diabetes label)$199 intro, then $349; 2 mg $499NovoCare[18]
Mounjaro (diabetes label)List price $1,112.16 per 28 daysRetail pharmacy[19]
Full breakdowns: GLP-1 cost comparison, Zepbound cost, Wegovy cost, Ozempic cost, Mounjaro cost.

Hidden costs to ask about

  • Separate bills. Many online programs charge a membership and bill the drug separately, as Ro does [15].
  • Refill windows. Zepbound at 7.5 mg is $499 a month and 10 to 15 mg is $699 a month on LillyDirect if you refill later than 45 days after the last fill [2].
  • Intro prices that end. The $199 Wegovy price covers the first two monthly fills of the lowest doses and runs through December 31, 2026 [1].
  • Dose step-ups. On LillyDirect, Zepbound goes from $299 at 2.5 mg to $449 at 7.5 mg and up [2].
  • Supplies. KwikPen needles are sold separately; vials need syringes [2].
  • Labs and consult fees. Found excludes labs from its plan price [16]. Henry Meds charges $30 per evaluation that results in a prescription, not refundable once prescribed [20].

Insurance, Medicare and Medicaid

Lilly, citing an IFEBP survey, says about half of Americans with employer coverage have no coverage for obesity medicines [21]. If your plan does cover them, manufacturer savings cards can bring Zepbound or Wegovy to as little as $25 a month [22][1]. People on Medicare or Medicaid cannot use those cards.

Medicare's GLP-1 Bridge runs from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027, with a $50 copay per monthly fill [6]. It covers Foundayo, Wegovy (shot and pill) and the Zepbound KwikPen, not Ozempic or Zepbound single-dose vials and pens [7]. Eligibility depends on BMI and certain conditions [6]. Medicaid coverage for obesity varies by state: 13 programs covered GLP-1s for obesity in January 2026 [8]. Details: insurance and Medicare for GLP-1s, Zepbound and Mounjaro coverage, Wegovy coverage.

How to choose a program

  1. Decide between a brand drug and a compounded one. Brand prices are now close to many compounded bundles, and compounded drugs carry no FDA review [17].
  2. Check the prescriber's license with your state medical board. Our clinic finder lists every state lookup we link to.
  3. Ask which pharmacy fills the order. FDA says it does not approve or license any pharmacy, so an "FDA-approved pharmacy" claim is false [23].
  4. Look up the company in our FDA warning letter tracker and in our reviews.
  5. Get the full monthly price at the maintenance dose, plus the cancellation and refund terms, in writing.

Programs we rate Avoid

Based on BBB ratings, complaint patterns, lawsuits or regulator action: MedVi, TrimRx, ShedRx, Fridays, Mochi Health and Hims and Hers weight loss. Each review explains the record.

When to get help right away

Stop the medicine and get care for severe stomach pain that will not go away, with or without vomiting, which can signal pancreatitis [14]. Get emergency help for swelling of the face, lips or throat, or trouble breathing. Low blood sugar is more likely if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea [14]. Zepbound and Wegovy should be stopped when pregnancy is recognized [14][10]. For an emergency, call 911.

Every guide in this section

The medicines

Prices and coverage

Getting a prescription

Comparisons

Side effects, diet and safety

In this section

Overviews

Costs and prices

Comparisons

Online programs

Guides

Trackers

Finding care

By city

Medical weight loss

Tirzepatide

Semaglutide

Questions people ask

How much does a medical weight loss program cost?

It depends on the drug and the program. Brand GLP-1 self-pay prices checked October 17, 2026 run from $149 a month for the Wegovy pill starting dose [1] to $449 a month for Zepbound 7.5 mg and up on LillyDirect [2]. Program fees we saw online ranged from a $19.99 monthly membership plus a $129 first visit at PlushCare [4] to $299 a month at Form Health [5], with medicine extra.

Which weight loss medicines are FDA-approved?

Among GLP-1 medicines, Zepbound (tirzepatide), Wegovy (semaglutide shot and pill) and Foundayo (orforglipron pill) are FDA-approved for long-term weight management in adults, used with a reduced-calorie diet and more activity [9][10][11]. Ozempic and Mounjaro are labeled for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss [12][13].

Do weight loss clinics take insurance?

Some do. Form Health, for example, accepts insurance including Medicare and also offers a $299 monthly self-pay program [5]. Coverage of the drug itself is a separate question: Lilly, citing an IFEBP survey, says about half of people with employer coverage lack coverage for obesity medicines [21].

Can I get a GLP-1 for weight loss on Medicare?

Possibly. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge charges a $50 copay per monthly fill from July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027 for Part D enrollees who meet BMI and health criteria [6]. It covers Foundayo, Wegovy and the Zepbound KwikPen, and excludes Ozempic and Zepbound single-dose vials and pens [7].

Are compounded GLP-1s from clinics FDA-approved?

No. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are not FDA-approved, and FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality [25]. As of May 31, 2026 FDA had received 990 adverse event reports for compounded semaglutide and more than 730 for compounded tirzepatide [17].

What should happen at the first visit?

Expect a medical history, current medicines, weight and health conditions, and questions about thyroid cancer in you or your family, since GLP-1 labels rule out use with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 [14]. You should leave with a dose plan, the pharmacy name and the full monthly price.

How do I check whether a weight loss clinic is legitimate?

Look up the prescribing clinician on your state medical board site; the Federation of State Medical Boards keeps a directory of boards [24]. Then ask which pharmacy fills the order. FDA says it does not approve or license any pharmacy, so a claim of an "FDA-approved pharmacy" is false [23].

Sources

25 cited
  1. Wegovy self-pay offer. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare Pharmacy), Oct 17, 2026.
  2. Zepbound on LillyDirect. Eli Lilly and Company (LillyDirect), Oct 17, 2026.
  3. Foundayo on LillyDirect. Eli Lilly and Company (LillyDirect), Oct 17, 2026.
  4. PlushCare weight loss. PlushCare, Oct 17, 2026.
  5. Form Health FAQs. Form Health, Oct 17, 2026.
  6. Weight loss drugs coverage. Medicare.gov, Oct 17, 2026.
  7. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: information for pharmacies. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Oct 17, 2026.
  8. Medicaid coverage of and spending on GLP-1s. KFF, Jan 16, 2026.
  9. Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection prescribing information. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine (Eli Lilly label), Aug 2026.
  10. Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets prescribing information. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine (Novo Nordisk label), Jun 2026.
  11. Foundayo (orforglipron) prescribing information. Eli Lilly and Company (FDA-approved labeling), Jul 2026.
  12. Ozempic (semaglutide) injection prescribing information. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine (Novo Nordisk label), May 2026.
  13. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injection prescribing information. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine (Eli Lilly label), Aug 2026.
  14. Zepbound prescribing information, 217806 s050. US Food and Drug Administration, Apr 2026.
  15. Ro weight loss pricing. Ro, Oct 17, 2026.
  16. Found offer terms. Found, Oct 17, 2026.
  17. FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. US Food and Drug Administration, Oct 1, 2026.
  18. Ozempic self-pay options. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare Pharmacy), Oct 17, 2026.
  19. Mounjaro frequently asked questions. Eli Lilly and Company, Oct 17, 2026.
  20. Henry Meds refund and return policy. Henry Meds, Oct 17, 2026.
  21. Foundayo, Lilly's new oral GLP-1 pill for weight loss, now available. Eli Lilly and Company, Apr 9, 2026.
  22. Zepbound coverage and savings. Eli Lilly and Company, Oct 17, 2026.
  23. FDA to telehealth companies: what to know when promoting compounded drugs. US Food and Drug Administration, Jun 15, 2026.
  24. Contact a state medical board. Federation of State Medical Boards, Oct 17, 2026.
  25. Compounding and the FDA: questions and answers. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2025-09-16 (accessed 2026-10-17).

This page is general information, not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own care.

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