Head-to-head · WeighScore
Cost Plus Drugs vs MDLive
The verdict
MDLive takes it — 58.8/100 to 58.5/100, but only just.
MDLive grades higher on WeighScore, our editorial score across cost value, dose & formulation, clinical oversight, labs & monitoring, fulfillment and contract terms. MDLive (an Evernorth/Cigna company) is a large telehealth provider offering urgent care, primary care, dermatology and behavioral health. Cost Plus Drugs is close behind and may still be the better fit — see the factor split below.
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Factor by factor
The same six graded dimensions, side by side. See the methodology.
The numbers
| Metric | Cost Plus Drugs | MDLive |
|---|---|---|
| WeighScore | 58.5/100 | 58.8/100 |
| Grade | C | C |
| Scorecard rank | #370 | #358 |
| Semaglutide | $279/mo (brand Ozempic) | Not disclosed |
| Tirzepatide | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Coverage | All 50 states | Coverage not published |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Yes |
| 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 #358 · C
Strengths
- Prescribes FDA-approved branded GLP-1s including Wegovy and Zepbound
- Covered through insurance and employer benefits for 50M-plus people
- Board-certified physicians averaging about 15 years of experience
- Part of Evernorth/Cigna, a large established healthcare organization
- Offers full primary care, not just a single weight-loss funnel
Where it loses points
- GLP-1s only at clinician discretion in a Primary Care routine visit
- Anti-obesity meds not available in FL, LA, MS or NJ
- Distributed mainly via insurers and employers; cost varies by plan
- No transparent published monthly cash price for GLP-1 care
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.