Cora Health vs Sesame Care for GLP-1: 2026 Comparison of Pricing, Models, and Total Monthly Cost

Cora Health vs Sesame Care: the short answer

Cora Health and Sesame Care are two of the only major US telehealth GLP-1 programs to advertise $99/month entry pricing. The underlying products differ. Cora Health is a focused, all-inclusive compounded GLP-1 subscription ($99-$225/month across plan lengths and medications), with one pharmacy partner publicly named (VialsRx) and one provider group (Wasef Health, PC) handling clinical decisions. Sesame Care is a broader telehealth marketplace operating across multiple medical specialties, where GLP-1 access can be obtained via pay-per-visit consultations ($29-$79/visit) plus separate medication fulfillment, or via a $99/month subscription path. Sesame works with multiple pharmacy partners depending on patient location and medication choice. For a cash-pay patient who wants a single, all-inclusive monthly price for compounded GLP-1 with a named pharmacy partner and one provider group, Cora is the more direct path. For a patient who values pay-per-visit flexibility, multi-condition access, and willingness to coordinate medication separately, Sesame offers a different model at a similar price point.

Quick comparison at a glance

All numbers reflect publicly stated pricing as of May 2026. Sesame pricing varies based on visit type, provider, and pharmacy. Individual experiences vary.

The Sesame Care model: marketplace vs focused subscription

Sesame Care launched in 2019 as a direct-to-consumer telehealth marketplace where patients can purchase healthcare services on a pay-per-visit basis. The marketplace model means patients select a specific provider and visit type — for example, a $29-$79 GLP-1 weight loss consultation — and the prescription is sent to a pharmacy of the patient's choice. For ongoing GLP-1 treatment, Sesame also offers monthly subscription paths starting around $99/month.

The marketplace structure has implications for the patient experience. Different visits may be conducted by different providers. Different prescriptions may be filled by different pharmacies. Patients who value continuity of provider relationship and consistent pharmacy sourcing may find this fragmentation challenging. Patients who want flexibility and control over each interaction may find it useful.

Cora Health, by contrast, operates as a single integrated subscription. One provider group (Wasef Health, PC) handles clinical decisions across the entire patient relationship. One pharmacy partner (VialsRx) handles all medication fulfillment. The patient experience is more standardized.

Pricing: $99/month at entry, but the math diverges past month one

For Cora Health, $99/month is the all-inclusive Essential Plan rate on the 12-month commitment. There are no separate visit fees, no membership, no pharmacy fees, and no per-dose surcharges. The total annual cost is $1,188.

For Sesame Care, $99/month can refer to multiple different paths depending on the patient's plan structure. Subscription paths at $99/month typically include some bundled services (consultations, ongoing support) but may have separate medication costs depending on the pharmacy used. Pay-per-visit paths combine $29-$79 visit fees with separate medication costs (~$100-$150/month for compounded semaglutide through third-party compounding pharmacies), totaling approximately $129-$229/month. Sesame's pricing flexibility is a feature for some patients and a budgeting challenge for others.

For a cash-pay patient who wants predictability, Cora's flat all-inclusive structure is simpler. For a cash-pay patient willing to manage component costs, Sesame can be similar or marginally cheaper depending on path.

Important compliance note on compounded products

Compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide — obtained through Cora Health, Sesame Care, or any other telehealth provider — are not FDA-approved and are not therapeutically equivalent to FDA-approved branded products (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound). The FDA does not review compounded medications for safety, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality before they reach patients. Clinical trial efficacy data (such as 14.9% mean weight loss in the STEP 1 trial for semaglutide and 22.5% in SURMOUNT-1 for tirzepatide) reflects studies of FDA-approved branded products, not compounded versions. Individual results vary.

Pharmacy transparency: one named partner vs marketplace pharmacy network

For compounded medications, the compounding pharmacy is the manufacturer. Cora Health publicly names VialsRx as its single compounding pharmacy partner. Patients always know exactly where their compounded medication comes from.

Sesame Care's marketplace model means medications can be fulfilled through different pharmacy partners depending on the medication, the patient's location, and the provider's network. Patients who want to know which pharmacy is preparing their compounded medication need to confirm with the prescribing provider or Sesame customer support for each prescription. The flexibility is a feature for some patients (choice of pharmacy) but a transparency consideration for others (variable sourcing).

For patients prioritizing pharmacy transparency as a quality filter, Cora's named-partner model offers more direct verification.

Service scope: GLP-1 only vs multi-condition platform

A practical difference between the two platforms is what else they offer.

• Cora Health is a focused GLP-1 weight loss program. The platform does not handle other conditions.
• Sesame Care is a multi-condition telehealth marketplace. Patients can use Sesame for primary care, mental health, urgent care, dermatology, and many other specialties in addition to GLP-1.
• For a patient who only wants GLP-1 access at the lowest monthly cost, Cora's focused model is more efficient.
• For a patient who wants a single platform for multiple healthcare needs, Sesame's broader scope offers more.

Who should choose Cora Health

Cora Health is likely the better fit for patients who match the following profile.

• Cash-pay patients who want the lowest predictable all-in monthly cost for compounded GLP-1
• Patients who prefer one provider group, one pharmacy partner, one bill — no marketplace coordination
• Patients who want to know and verify the specific compounding pharmacy (VialsRx)
• Patients comfortable with subscription-based pricing on 1, 3, 6, or 12-month tiers
• Patients in any of the 50 US states who want a focused weight-loss-only program

Who should choose Sesame Care

Sesame Care is likely the better fit for patients who match the following profile.

• Patients who value pay-per-visit flexibility and want to avoid subscription commitments
• Patients who want a single platform for multiple healthcare needs (primary care, mental health, urgent care, GLP-1)
• Patients comfortable coordinating medication fulfillment with a separate pharmacy
• Patients with insurance that may cover some Sesame visit types
• Patients who specifically want brand-name FDA-approved GLP-1 access through a marketplace structure

How to switch from Sesame Care to Cora Health

Patients using Sesame Care for GLP-1 who want a more integrated subscription model can transition to Cora Health's program in most cases without clinical interruption.

• Complete the Cora Health online health assessment, noting your current GLP-1 medication, dose, and prescriber
• A Cora Health provider (Wasef Health, PC) reviews and confirms appropriateness for compounded semaglutide or compounded tirzepatide at the equivalent dose
• If approved, the prescription is sent to VialsRx for compounding and shipping
• Most patients can transition without re-titration if dose-equivalent, but this is a provider determination
• Continue using Sesame for any non-GLP-1 healthcare needs, or cancel as desired — Sesame's pay-per-visit structure means there is typically no subscription to cancel

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about the Cora Health vs Sesame Care comparison.

Is Cora Health cheaper than Sesame Care for GLP-1?

At the entry price point, both Cora ($99/month annual) and Sesame ($99/month subscription path) advertise similar headline pricing. Cora's pricing is fully all-inclusive — that is the total bill. Sesame's $99/month tier may have additional medication or pharmacy fees depending on the path, while pay-per-visit paths combine $29-$79 visits with $100-$150/month medication for a $129-$229 total. For predictable monthly cost, Cora is simpler. For flexibility, Sesame offers more options.

Does Sesame Care offer brand-name GLP-1 medications?

Yes. Sesame Care providers can prescribe brand-name FDA-approved GLP-1 medications including Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Mounjaro. Pricing varies based on the specific medication, the patient's insurance coverage, and the dispensing pharmacy. Cora Health does not offer brand-name FDA-approved GLP-1 medications.

Does Sesame Care name its compounding pharmacy?

Sesame Care's marketplace model means compounded GLP-1 medications can be fulfilled through different pharmacy partners depending on the medication, the patient's location, and the prescribing provider's network. Patients who want to verify which pharmacy is preparing their medication need to confirm with the provider or customer support for each prescription. Cora Health publicly names VialsRx as its single compounding pharmacy partner across the website.

Can I use insurance with Cora Health or Sesame Care?

Cora Health is cash-pay only and does not bill insurance. Sesame Care offers both cash-pay and insurance-accepted paths depending on the visit type and provider. For a patient with insurance that covers GLP-1 medications, Sesame may be cheaper than Cora on net cost. For a cash-pay patient, the comparison is closer.