PlushCare vs SkinnyRx
Brand-name GLP-1s billed through your insurance by a virtual primary-care practice against a compounded cash plan with a $99 first month.
Short answer
If your insurance covers a brand-name GLP-1, PlushCare is the route: $19.99 a month plus your copay, with prior authorizations handled. Without coverage, PlushCare estimates the drug at about $1,000 a month. SkinnyRx's compounded plan starts at $99 for the first month, with the ongoing price shown after signup. SkinnyRx has an FDA warning letter.
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Is PlushCare or SkinnyRx better?
PlushCare is primary care first: a board-certified physician by video, usually two visits and a lab order before a prescription, and the drug filled at your own pharmacy. SkinnyRx is a quick, contract-free compounded plan with injections or tablets and a provider decision usually inside a day, but its month-two price and its refund limits need reading before you pay. SkinnyRx received FDA warning letter 717989 in February 2026, linked below.
How they differ
- Published up front
PlushCare
$19.99/mo membership plus $129 per visit without insurance (a copay with it) — medication billed separatelySkinnyRx
From $99 for the first month; ongoing price shown after signup; cancel anytime- Insurance
PlushCare
Works with insuranceSkinnyRx
Cash-pay only- How you're seen
PlushCare
Video visitSkinnyRx
Video visit / Async intake- Medications
PlushCare
Branded medicationSkinnyRx
Compounded semaglutide, Compounded tirzepatide- Availability
PlushCare
All 50 states + D.C.SkinnyRx
Not AL, LA or MS (compounded)- FDA warning letter
PlushCare
None on recordSkinnyRx
| PlushCare | SkinnyRx | |
|---|---|---|
| Published up front | $19.99/mo membership plus $129 per visit without insurance (a copay with it) — medication billed separately | From $99 for the first month; ongoing price shown after signup; cancel anytime |
| Insurance | Works with insurance | Cash-pay only |
| How you're seen | Video visit | Video visit / Async intake |
| Medications | Branded medication | Compounded semaglutide, Compounded tirzepatide |
| Availability | All 50 states + D.C. | Not AL, LA or MS (compounded) |
| FDA warning letter | None on record | Warning letter 717989 |
What each one costs and includes
Month-to-month prices a new patient can buy, with any required membership counted in. First-month promotions and prepaid averages are labeled as such.
- First full month
PlushCare
$19.99 a month (first month free) plus $129 a visit without insurance, or your copay; the drug is billed by your pharmacySkinnyRx
$99 for the first month of injections, or $149 to $199 for tablets; the price from month two appears only after you create an account- Once you're on a steady dose
PlushCare
Depends on drug coverage; without it, branded weight-loss drugs run about $1,000 a month by PlushCare's own estimateSkinnyRx
Not shown before signup, so get the renewal price in writing- What the fee covers
PlushCare
Messaging, same-day appointments and lab discounts; visits are billed separatelySkinnyRx
Provider review and medication, with each compounded lot sent for third-party testing- Medications
PlushCare
Brand-name: Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda and Contrave for weight, sent to the pharmacy you chooseSkinnyRx
Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide as weekly injections or daily under-the-tongue tablets- Insurance
PlushCare
In network with most major insurers for visits, and handles prior authorizations for the drugSkinnyRx
Cash-pay; FSA/HSA cards and Affirm financing accepted; no insurance, Medicare or Medicaid- Commitment and refunds
PlushCare
Cancel anytime; the membership fee is never refundedSkinnyRx
Auto-renews; cancel at least five days before renewal; non-refundable once fulfillment starts- How care works
PlushCare
A board-certified primary-care physician by video, often the same day; usually two visits and labs before a prescriptionSkinnyRx
Online intake with a provider decision usually inside 24 hours; video only where the state requires it- Look elsewhere if
PlushCare
You're paying cash for the drug, want compounded medication or want a coached weight programSkinnyRx
You want to compare monthly costs before signing up, want a named pharmacy, or live in Alabama, Louisiana or Mississippi
| PlushCare | SkinnyRx | |
|---|---|---|
| First full month | $19.99 a month (first month free) plus $129 a visit without insurance, or your copay; the drug is billed by your pharmacy | $99 for the first month of injections, or $149 to $199 for tablets; the price from month two appears only after you create an account |
| Once you're on a steady dose | Depends on drug coverage; without it, branded weight-loss drugs run about $1,000 a month by PlushCare's own estimate | Not shown before signup, so get the renewal price in writing |
| What the fee covers | Messaging, same-day appointments and lab discounts; visits are billed separately | Provider review and medication, with each compounded lot sent for third-party testing |
| Medications | Brand-name: Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda and Contrave for weight, sent to the pharmacy you choose | Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide as weekly injections or daily under-the-tongue tablets |
| Insurance | In network with most major insurers for visits, and handles prior authorizations for the drug | Cash-pay; FSA/HSA cards and Affirm financing accepted; no insurance, Medicare or Medicaid |
| Commitment and refunds | Cancel anytime; the membership fee is never refunded | Auto-renews; cancel at least five days before renewal; non-refundable once fulfillment starts |
| How care works | A board-certified primary-care physician by video, often the same day; usually two visits and labs before a prescription | Online intake with a provider decision usually inside 24 hours; video only where the state requires it |
| Look elsewhere if | You're paying cash for the drug, want compounded medication or want a coached weight program | You want to compare monthly costs before signing up, want a named pharmacy, or live in Alabama, Louisiana or Mississippi |
PlushCare
- Access
- $19.99/mo membership plus $129 per visit without insurance (a copay with it) — medication billed separately
- Medications
- Branded
- Insurance
- Works with insurance
- Visit
- Video visit
What we like
- Board-certified primary-care physicians by video, often the same day, in all 50 states and D.C.
- In-network with most major insurers for visits, and prior authorizations are handled for you
- Brand-name medication sent to the pharmacy you choose
Watch-outs
- Medication and labs are billed separately from the membership and visits
- Without coverage, branded drugs cost about $1,000 a month by PlushCare's own estimate
Pick PlushCare if: You have insurance coverage and want a brand-name drug.
Check PlushCare availability →Read the full PlushCare review →
SkinnyRx
Partner- Access
- From $99 for the first month; ongoing price shown after signup; cancel anytime
- Medications
- Semaglutide · Tirzepatide · Oral
- Insurance
- Cash-pay
- Visit
- Video visit / Async intake
What we like
- Low first-month entry price: $99 for injections
- Injection or daily tablet for both semaglutide and tirzepatide, with microdosing on most
- Provider decision usually within 24 hours, video visit only where the state requires one
Watch-outs
- Only first-month prices are published; the month-two price appears after signup
- Non-refundable once fulfillment starts, and promotional discounts can be reversed if you cancel early
Pick SkinnyRx if: You're paying cash and want a compounded plan with no contract.
Check SkinnyRx availability →Read the full SkinnyRx review →Want the full field? See every option in our GLP-1 providers roundup, or narrow by tirzepatide / semaglutide and price.