Head-to-head · WeighScore
Ascend Medical vs PlushCare
The verdict
PlushCare takes it — 74.5/100 to 55.9/100.
PlushCare grades higher on WeighScore, our editorial score across cost value, dose & formulation, clinical oversight, labs & monitoring, fulfillment and contract terms. Established virtual primary-care telehealth platform (subsidiary of Transcarent, Inc., a Delaware corporation, alongside Accolade, 2nd.MD, and 98point6 by Transcarent).
We may earn a commission if you start care through some of these links, at no extra cost to you. It never moves the WeighScore, which is the weighted average of the six factors shown for every provider, and what we write about a provider is the same either way. See our disclosure.
Factor by factor
The same six graded dimensions, side by side. See the methodology.
The numbers
| Metric | Ascend Medical | PlushCare |
|---|---|---|
| WeighScore | 55.9/100 | 74.5/100 |
| Grade | C | C |
| Scorecard rank | #425 | #63 |
| Semaglutide | Not disclosed | $149/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide | Not disclosed | $399/mo (starting dose, compounded) |
| Coverage | 2 states | All 50 states |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Yes |
| Oral / sublingual | Injection only | Injection only |
Graded #425 · C
Strengths
- Whole-person virtual primary care that includes a medical weight loss program
- Staffed by licensed MDs, DOs, NPs and PAs
- Integrates weight loss with primary, mental health and diabetes care
- Clear state availability (Georgia and Texas)
Where it loses points
- Available only in Georgia and Texas
- Specific GLP-1 medications and branded-vs-compounded status not published
- No pricing disclosed on public pages
- Weight loss is one service among many, not a dedicated GLP-1 specialist
Graded #63 · C
Strengths
- Available in all 50 states
- Appointments with US board-certified physicians, not nurse practitioners only
- Virtual primary care — the same doctor can manage GLP-1s alongside other health needs
- Owned by Transcarent, a venture-backed health platform with a named corporate parent
Where it loses points
- Facing a California class action alleging deceptive subscription enrollment and unauthorized charges after cancellation
- GLP-1 prescribing is up to the clinician at the visit — not guaranteed at signup
- BBB complaints center on the membership cancellation process
Also worth a look
Neither is our top-graded pick — CoreAge Rx leads the scorecard
Across all 499 providers, CoreAge Rx grades highest at 91.8/100 (A−). Top of the scorecard: flat transparent pricing, both molecules, nationwide — no teaser-rate games.
Pricing/verification reflect each provider's public disclosures at last grading; the WeighScore is our editorial judgment per the methodology. Prices change — confirm on each provider's site. Not medical advice; see our disclosure.