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Sunday, February 16th
PlushCare was designed to be "a doctor's office on your phone or computer”. The company has a network of physicians who can treat you virtually, saving you the time you'd ordinarily spend driving to an in-person visit. PlushCare has been featured by ABC, Forbes, Business Insider, and more, and is approved by URAC's Telemedicine Accreditation Program. So, let's take a look at your options if you're considering PlushCare as a Semaglutide provider.
Can be complicated
Using PlushCare is a bit more complicated than many of the services on our list. It's really designed to be used with insurance, but either way you'll be paying $16.99 for a monthly membership here. The first 30 days are free, but you'll still either have a copay (if PlushCare is in network on your health insurance plan) or a per-visit fee of $129 - including your initial telehealth visit to determine if Semaglutide is the right approach for you personally. But, that membership can be canceled at any time, you get discounts on lab tests and unlimited messages with your care team, and access to same-day appointments 7 days a week. Also, if PlushCare's provider winds up being unable to treat you, you'll get a full refund.
Full access to Semaglutide and alternatives
One benefit of using an all-around provider like PlushCare, though, is that you could potentially be offered a different medication - maybe your insurance won't cover Ozempic, but they're okay with Mounjaro or Contrave. Or perhaps there's a shortage of one of the GLP-1s but not the other, and your provider says it's safe to switch. Depending on where you live, PlushCare's practitioners also have access to the compounded versions of Semaglutide, so it's not entirely "name-brand or bust” here. If you live outside of California, PlushCare charges $299/month for compounded Semaglutide; within CA, it's priced at $399/month. Remember that those prices are in addition to your monthly membership and any visit copays or fees.
They make sure you're a good candidate first
We like that PlushCare tries to make it easy to determine if you're going to be a candidate for their program. When you click the button to book an appointment, you'll be asked whether or not you have certain medical conditions, along with your height and weight to determine BMI. If you pass that checkpoint, you'll continue on to actually booking an appointment; but, don't worry, during your visit you'll speak with the doctor about any other underlying conditions. The doctor will also order labs and a blood pressure check, just to be on the safe side.
You choose the doctor
The process continues by asking if you're paying with or without insurance. You'll confirm in which state you'll be during the appointment, so you can be matched with a physician who's licensed there. Next, you'll see a list of doctors with available times. We love that PlushCare puts the power in your hands, to choose a provider you think you'll feel comfortable with. We did notice, though, that compared to PlushCare's most similar rival on our list, there were fewer practitioners to choose from, and they didn't have nearly as many ratings (1,000+ ratings on the other platform for some doctors vs. 10-60 ratings here). But, you can click on any doctor that you think might be a good fit and learn more about him or her.
Pay for your visit and you're good to go
When you click the "Book” button, you'll be asked to create a PlushCare account. If you're paying with insurance, be aware that the list defaults to the bigger names in the industry (like Aetna and UHC), but you can type in your insurer if they're not on the list. Or, opt to pay without insurance; you'll be billed $129 for the visit (and refunded if it doesn't work out, as we already mentioned). All that's left to do is show up for your video visit, talk with the provider, and see if Semaglutide is on the table as an option.
Mixed reviews
Not everyone is a fan of PlushCare, unfortunately. While the Better Business Bureau has accredited the company, it's only offered a "B” rating, mostly because of the 335 complaints filed over the last 3 years. When you read through those complaints, you'll see a bunch of issues with insurance: visits that should be covered as an in-network benefit but aren't, lab work or meds with no covered lab/pharmacy they can be sent to, extra charges after insurance processes a claim (or outright refuses to). You might do better with PlushCare if you just don't use your insurance, but then you'll be paying quite a bit more too.
Good, but room to grow
We're willing to give PlushCare an above average rating. There's a lot of flexibility with how you use the service: insurance or cash pay, brand-name or compounded Semaglutide, and so on. We also appreciate the full refund if your provider determines that he or she can't offer the weight loss care and medication you're seeking. But, compared with its most closely-related rival on our list (which ranks as our #2 Semaglutide provider), PlushCare comes up a bit short. It's not a bad option on the whole, but you may want to save it as a backup choice to its higher-ranked competitor.
If you're like the rest of us, you've probably wished there was some magic pill or silver bullet for weight loss. "Can't I just take something and have the pounds just fall off?” For a lot of people, Semaglutide feels like it could be that unicorn. How familiar are you with this GLP-1 medication? Is it right for you?
Let's look at the background of Semaglutide for a minute. Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These drugs mimic the action of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and appetite. Approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes treatment, its use has expanded to include weight loss due to its appetite-suppressing effects.
That expansion has provoked shortages in many of the name-brand options (like Wegovy and Ozempic), so some Semaglutide providers offer compounded versions (that are similar to a generic form of the same drug).
Does it work for losing weight? In clinical trials, Semaglutide has been shown to be more effective than a placebo. However, it's still fairly new in its usage for weight loss, and long-term safety data is still being gathered and studied. Some people have reported side effects like nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal issues. Starting Semaglutide is a decision you should make carefully, under the direction of a physician.
But, what if your doctor isn't willing to prescribe Semaglutide, or you don't have a physician you trust? In today's world of telemedicine, it's not just possible but easy to work with a provider online. Most platforms will start you off with a basic medical history, which is reviewed by a board-certified physician before you're approved for a Semaglutide prescription. The best Semaglutide providers offer a comprehensive approach, often bundling one-on-one coaching, apps for tracking what you eat, and access to a community of other people in pursuit of weight loss into the services you receive.
So, let's say you're ready to find out if Semaglutide is the right next step for you. How can you tell which online provider to choose? There are quite a few of them out there, and they're all eager to onboard you as their newest client. Here's what you should look for as you compare your options:
To help you on your "weigh” (see what we did there?), the experts at Top Consumer Reviews have evaluated some of today's most popular Semaglutide providers and ranked them from best to worst. Use this information to get a head start on choosing the one that will be your perfect partner on your journey. We wish you all the best of health and wellness!
Select any 2 Semaglutide Providers to compare them head to head