How We Rank GLP-1 Providers in 2026
Our 2026 rankings of 22 US telehealth and weight-loss providers use five scoring criteria with explicit weights. This page documents what we measure, how we collect the data, what we exclude, and how often we revisit each ranking.
The Five Criteria
| Criterion | Weight | What We Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Total cost transparency | 25% | All-in monthly cost: visit fees, membership, medication, savings programs, labs. |
| FDA-approved medication access | 25% | Access to brand-name Wegovy/Zepbound/Saxenda vs reliance on compounded. |
| Insurance acceptance | 20% | Number of major commercial networks accepted; Medicare/Medicaid policies. |
| State coverage | 15% | Number of US states where the provider can prescribe. |
| Clinical oversight quality | 15% | Clinician credentials, dose titration support, follow-up cadence, lab access. |
Each criterion is scored 0–10 by our editorial team using the data sources below. The composite score is the weighted average. Providers with critical safety or compliance issues are excluded from ranking entirely (see exclusions).
1. Total Cost Transparency (25%)
We score providers on how clearly they publish total monthly cost — including visit fees, membership, medication, applicable savings programs, and labs — for a typical adult patient on a maintenance GLP-1 dose. Higher scores go to providers who publish a single number a self-pay patient can compare without calling. Lower scores go to providers who hide pricing behind a quiz, intake form, or "starting at" language.
2. FDA-Approved Medication Access (25%)
We score providers on access to FDA-approved brand-name medications: Wegovy (semaglutide injection or oral), Zepbound (tirzepatide), Saxenda (liraglutide), Ozempic, Mounjaro, Rybelsus, Trulicity, Victoza, plus older approved oral medications (Qsymia, Contrave, phentermine). Providers offering primarily compounded semaglutide score lower because compounded products are not FDA approved, do not undergo the same manufacturing oversight, and (since the brand-name shortages resolved in 2023–2024) face increasing FDA enforcement scrutiny.
3. Insurance Acceptance (20%)
We count the number of major commercial insurance networks the provider is in-network with, and verify Medicare and Medicaid policies. Providers that operate cash-only or use unclear "we'll see if your insurance covers it" language score lower than providers that publish a clear list of accepted plans.
4. State Coverage (15%)
Number of US states where the provider can write a prescription. 50-state coverage is the maximum score; providers limited to a small number of states score lower because they're inaccessible to most US readers.
5. Clinical Oversight Quality (15%)
Subjective but documented scoring on:
- Are clinicians named with verifiable credentials (NPI, state license)?
- Is there a real intake including medical history and contraindication screening?
- Are labs ordered before initiating therapy when clinically appropriate?
- What is the follow-up cadence (monthly during titration, quarterly thereafter)?
- Can the patient reach a clinician between scheduled visits if side effects arise?
Data Sources
For each provider, we collect data from:
- The provider's own published materials — pricing pages, FAQ, intake flow, terms of service.
- Direct contact with the provider — we email a standard questionnaire to every provider's editorial or PR contact at least once per quarter.
- State medical board licensure databases — spot-checking clinician licenses for providers where individual clinicians are named.
- NABP pharmacy verification — checking that any mail-order pharmacy a provider uses is NABP-verified.
- Customer complaints in public records — BBB, state attorney general consumer-protection databases, FTC actions.
What We Exclude From Ranking
Providers are excluded entirely (not ranked at all) if any of the following apply:
- Active state board action against the practice or its clinicians
- FTC or state attorney general consumer-protection action
- Operation of unlicensed pharmacies or sale of products outside FDA approval pathways
- Refusal to disclose clinician identities
- "Same-day shipping no consultation" or other clear violations of prescription law
- Counterfeit medication risk (verified reports of counterfeit Ozempic/Wegovy/Zepbound)
What Does Not Factor Into Rankings
- Affiliate compensation. We disclose affiliate relationships on every commercial page, but compensation does not affect rankings or coverage decisions. We rank Walgreens at #1 on cost despite not having a direct affiliate relationship with them in 2026.
- Marketing partnerships. We do not accept content sponsorship from providers we rank.
- Star rating systems on third-party review platforms. We don't trust scraped Trustpilot or BBB ratings; we read the actual complaints.
Quarterly Audit Cadence
Rankings are re-audited every three months. Triggers for off-cycle re-evaluation:
- A provider announces a major pricing change
- An FDA decision affects approval or labeling for a covered medication
- A state or federal enforcement action is filed against a provider
- Multiple consistent reader complaints surface about a specific provider
Why You Can Trust This
Our editorial board (see Editorial Board) reviews and signs off on the methodology and rankings each quarter. Our reviewers have no commercial relationship with the providers ranked. Affiliate disclosure is on every commercial page. The exact criteria, weights, and exclusions are published here — not buried in legalese — so readers can audit our work.
Updating This Methodology
The criteria and weights on this page can change as the market evolves. Major changes will be noted with a change-log entry below. Minor wording updates may be made without notice.
Last updated: July 11, 2026