Head-to-head · WeighScore
Cost Plus Drugs vs KERNX Health
The verdict
KERNX Health takes it — 62.2/100 to 58.5/100.
KERNX Health grades higher on WeighScore, our editorial score across cost value, dose & formulation, clinical oversight, labs & monitoring, fulfillment and contract terms. Washington DC telehealth platform selling compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide on flat monthly plans, with the physician consultation billed separately per visit.
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 | Cost Plus Drugs | KERNX Health |
|---|---|---|
| WeighScore | 58.5/100 | 62.2/100 |
| Grade | C | C |
| Scorecard rank | #370 | #276 |
| Semaglutide | $279/mo (brand Ozempic) | $129/mo (promotional rate, plus a separate fee, compounded) |
| Tirzepatide | Not disclosed | $199/mo (promotional rate, plus a separate fee, compounded) |
| Coverage | All 50 states | Coverage not published |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Compounded only |
| Oral / sublingual | Injection only | Injection only |
Graded #370 · C
Strengths
- Transparent pricing: wholesale cost + 15% markup + $5 pharmacy fee, the same for everyone
- Around $279/mo for branded Ozempic — well below typical retail list prices
- Mark Cuban's PBM-disrupting pharmacy, praised by Forbes Health, Wired, and KFF Health News
- Ships to all 50 states; genuine FDA-approved Novo Nordisk Ozempic, not compounded
- Partnered with 9amHealth so you can get prescribed and fill at Cost Plus pricing
Where it loses points
- Fulfillment only — no telehealth intake; you need a prescription from an outside clinician
- Ozempic is FDA-indicated for type 2 diabetes, not weight management — weight-loss use is off-label
- Wegovy availability has been spotty — check current stock before assuming it ships
- No compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide — brand only
- No clinical follow-up — side-effect monitoring falls to your prescribing clinician
Graded #276 · C
Strengths
- Publishes plan pricing openly, before any intake or account creation
- Month-to-month with no long-term contract and no multi-month prepayment
- Billing starts only after a licensed provider approves treatment
- LegitScript certification verified against the issued seal, not just the badge
Where it loses points
- Its own pricing page contradicts itself: it claims no separate consultation charges, then states a $25-$60 fee applies per visit
- The consultation fee is charged whether or not a prescription is issued
- Advertised $129 and $199 rates are time-limited founding rates; standard rates are $249 and $299
- No compounding pharmacy is named anywhere on the site
- Shipping claims conflict: a 48-hour figure on the homepage against 1-2 days to ship plus 2-3 days transit in the FAQ
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.