PlushCare review
Branded via insurance
Virtual primary care in all 50 states that prescribes brand-name GLP-1s and bills insurance for visits: $19.99 a month plus a copay or $129 per visit.
Our verdict
PlushCare is a virtual primary-care practice that treats weight as one of many conditions, not a GLP-1 storefront. You see a board-certified primary-care physician by video, often the same day, and if medication is right for you, the prescription goes to your own pharmacy and PlushCare's team chases the prior authorization with your insurer. The visit costs are low and published: a $19.99 monthly membership plus your copay, or $129 a visit without insurance. The drug is the catch. PlushCare prescribes brand-name medication, and its own FAQ puts branded weight-loss drugs at about $1,000 a month out of pocket when insurance says no. It makes the most sense for people whose plan covers the drug.
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At a glance
- Category
- GLP-1 telehealth
- 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
- Availability
- All 50 states + D.C.
Partner alternative
Enhance MD
Lab-guided treatment under ongoing physician oversight
Check Enhance MD availability →What it is
PlushCare is a national telehealth practice offering urgent care, primary care, mental health and prescriptions, staffed by board-certified physicians and therapists in all 50 states and D.C. Weight loss is one program inside that broader service: doctor-led care with prescription medication when appropriate, available with or without insurance and with no minimum commitment. PlushCare is in-network with most major health plans for visits, which sets it apart from cash-only GLP-1 services, and it says it has treated more than a million patients.
How it works
Expect at least two visits before a prescription. At the first, your PlushCare doctor reviews your history and goals, and often orders lab work, which you get done at a lab near you. At the follow-up, the doctor goes over results and, if you qualify, prescribes and sends the prescription to the pharmacy you choose. Prior authorization starts automatically once a weight-loss or diabetes drug is prescribed: PlushCare says its team usually needs three to seven business days to assemble the paperwork, and insurers then take seven to 14 business days on average, with status checks every seven days. To speed things up, bring a list of weight-loss drugs you've tried, any relevant lab results, and receipts or records from past diet and exercise programs, which insurers often ask for. After that, your physician monitors your progress, and you message your care team in the app between visits. Candidates are adults with type 2 diabetes, a BMI of 30, or a BMI of 27 with a weight-related condition; PlushCare won't prescribe weight-loss medication to new patients with a normal BMI or symptoms of an active eating disorder.
Pricing transparency
The membership is $19.99 a month after a free first month, and it covers unlimited messaging with your care team, same-day appointments, discounts on lab tests and free memberships for family members. Each visit is billed on top: your insurance copay if PlushCare is in your network (it says most in-network patients pay $30 or less), or $129 without insurance. So an uninsured patient pays about $258 for the first visit and the follow-up, plus labs, before any medication. The drug is billed separately by your pharmacy, and that is the number that decides whether PlushCare is cheap or expensive for you. If your insurer denies the prior authorization, you can still buy the drug at the full cash price, which PlushCare's FAQ estimates at about $1,000 a month for branded weight-loss medication; its in-app discount card has saved patients 7% to 20% on these drugs, and it suggests asking your doctor about cheaper cash-pay alternatives. The membership is cancel-anytime. Refunds cover a visit PlushCare couldn't deliver, such as a doctor who doesn't show within 10 minutes or a state licensing problem, but not a visit where the doctor assessed you, and never the membership fee.
Branded vs compounded
Brand-name medication. For weight loss, PlushCare lists Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda, Xenical and Contrave; for type 2 diabetes, it lists Ozempic, Mounjaro, Rybelsus, Victoza and metformin. Its doctors may also consider older drugs such as topiramate or bupropion. PlushCare notes that if Wegovy were on the FDA shortage list, its doctors could prescribe compounded semaglutide from a partner sterile-compounding pharmacy in a list of states, and it states that compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved. In practice, the standard route is a branded drug filled at your own pharmacy, which means the dosing matches the approved label, and the price depends on your coverage.
Pros and watch-outs
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
- Low, published fees: $19.99 a month plus a copay or $129 per visit
- Weight care sits inside ongoing primary care, with no minimum commitment
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
- Usually two visits and a lab order before a prescription
- Visit refunds are narrow, and the membership fee is never refunded
- No dietitian or structured weight-loss curriculum
Best for
People with insurance that covers a GLP-1 who want a board-certified primary-care doctor to prescribe it and handle the prior authorization.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone paying cash for the drug, anyone who wants compounded medication, and anyone looking for a coached, program-style weight service.
The evidence behind what PlushCare prescribes
We grade the molecules, not the marketing. Here is what the human data actually shows for each thing on their menu.
- What the semaglutide weight-loss trials actually showed
STEP 1, STEP 4, and SELECT — the efficacy, the rebound, and the cardiovascular signal, read straight from the primary literature.
- Tirzepatide vs semaglutide for weight loss: what the trials actually support
Most comparisons are cross-trial. Only SURPASS-2 and SURMOUNT-5 randomized one drug against the other — here's the precise distinction.
- GLP-1 cost and insurance coverage: what drives the price, and what's actually covered
List price, net price, and your price are three different numbers. Indication drives coverage, savings cards have fine print, and cost is itself a clinical variable.
How PlushCare compares
A few alternatives worth a look, depending on what you’re optimizing for.
FoundCompounded GLP-1 with the drug included, and insurance for the visits
See Found →
WellMedRxCompounded GLP-1s by injection or tablet, with a named clinician network and pharmacy
See WellMedRx →
Form HealthA more medical, dietitian-supported approach
See Form Health →
Head-to-head: PlushCare vs Found · PlushCare vs Strut Health · PlushCare vs Direct Meds · PlushCare vs Hims · PlushCare vs SkinnyRx · PlushCare vs Sprout Health
More GLP-1 telehealth reviews: G-PlansGetRelief RxGo Vida PlenaEveEverFit MedicalEvergreen Telehealth
Access & cost
How we assessed this. This review reflects Aminoscope’s own read of PlushCare’s publicly-stated model — pricing transparency, clinical oversight, medication clarity, and access — against our editorial methodology. We publish no fabricated ratings or first-hand outcomes. A partnership never changes the assessment — see how we make money.
Frequently asked
- How much does PlushCare cost for weight loss?
- The membership is $19.99 a month after a free first month. Each visit costs your copay with in-network insurance, or $129 without it, and weight care usually takes a first visit plus a follow-up after labs. Medication and lab work are extra. If insurance doesn't cover the drug, PlushCare's FAQ estimates branded weight-loss medication at about $1,000 a month.
- Does PlushCare take insurance?
- Yes. PlushCare is in-network with most major insurers for visits, so you pay your copay on top of the $19.99 monthly membership. Medication coverage is a separate question: most branded weight-loss drugs need prior authorization, which PlushCare's team submits for you. It usually takes three to seven business days to prepare and seven to 14 business days for a decision, and coverage isn't guaranteed.
- Does PlushCare prescribe branded or compounded GLP-1?
- Branded. PlushCare prescribes FDA-approved medications such as Wegovy, Zepbound and Saxenda, and diabetes drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro where appropriate. It says compounded semaglutide would only come into play if Wegovy were on the FDA shortage list.
- What if my prior authorization is denied?
- You can still buy the drug at the full cash price, ask your doctor about a different medication your plan covers, or ask about cheaper cash-pay options. PlushCare suggests checking your plan's formulary first and calling your pharmacy benefit manager, not your insurer, to track a prior authorization.
- Is PlushCare just for weight loss?
- No. PlushCare is a virtual primary-care practice that also handles urgent care, prescriptions and mental health. GLP-1 prescribing sits inside that broader care, which suits people who want one doctor for weight and everything else.
- Is PlushCare legit?
- PlushCare is a GLP-1 telehealth service you reach through a video visit with a clinician. The medications it names are branded medication. Its stated availability: All 50 states + D.C. What it publishes up front: $19.99/mo membership plus $129 per visit without insurance (a copay with it) — medication billed separately. It states it works with insurance. Before you pay, ask in writing about a single monthly price you can check before an intake.