Sesame Care's marketplace model — letting you pick your own provider from 14 medication options — is genuinely distinctive, but its $99/28-day subscription bills separately from medication, and Sesame doesn't offer compounded medication at all.
Luma Health's semaglutide ($197/month) and tirzepatide ($297/month) include compounded options at a flat, all-inclusive price.
Sesame Care takes a different approach than most GLP-1 telehealth platforms — instead of assigning you a provider, it's a marketplace where you browse and choose your own, and it focuses exclusively on FDA-approved brand-name medications rather than compounded alternatives.
How Sesame's Marketplace Model Works
Sesame connects patients with independent licensed providers who set their own rates within the platform. For weight loss, the "Success by Sesame" program charges a subscription (commonly $99 every 28 days, which is 13 billing cycles per year rather than 12 monthly ones) covering video visits, lab coordination, and unlimited messaging, with medication billed separately.
Medication Options and Pricing
Sesame offers 14 prescription weight-loss options, all FDA-approved brand-name products — Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Saxenda, Rybelsus, and others — but no compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide. Pricing varies by product: Wegovy injection commonly runs $199/month promotional (then $349/month), oral Wegovy pill from $149/month, and Zepbound vials from $299/month via LillyDirect self-pay. Costco members can access discounted pricing through a Sesame-Costco partnership.
Sesame bills its subscription every 28 days rather than monthly, which means 13 billing cycles occur per year instead of 12 — a detail that's easy to miss when budgeting and worth accounting for in your annual cost estimate.
Strengths and Gaps
Sesame's biggest differentiator is genuine provider choice — you can read reviews and pick a specific provider rather than being randomly assigned, which supports continuity if you want to keep working with the same person. The tradeoff is that Sesame doesn't offer compounded medication at all, so patients specifically looking for that lower-cost option won't find it here, and the program doesn't include structured coaching or lifestyle support beyond the medical visit itself.
Who Sesame Fits Best
- Specifically want FDA-approved brand-name medication only
- Value choosing your own provider from reviews
- Have insurance likely to cover your medication, or access to Costco pricing
- Don't have insurance coverage for brand-name medication
- Want a lower cash-pay price than brand-name options offer
- Prefer one all-inclusive monthly price
Compounded options,
one flat price
Compounded semaglutide at $197/month or tirzepatide at $297/month — medical evaluation, provider visits, and shipping all included.
Get Started → Or start your free health assessmentFrequently Asked Questions
No. Sesame focuses exclusively on FDA-approved brand-name medications like Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Mounjaro.
Commonly $99 every 28 days (roughly $1,287/year across 13 billing cycles), with medication billed separately and varying by product.
Yes, this is a key differentiator — Sesame lets you browse providers, read reviews, and select who you work with, rather than random assignment.
Not in a structured way — the program focuses on medical visits, labs, and messaging rather than bundled behavioral coaching.
With insurance covering your medication and the manufacturer savings card, brand-name GLP-1s can cost as little as $25/month on top of the subscription fee.
Yes. Providers like Luma Health offer compounded semaglutide ($197/month) and tirzepatide ($297/month) at a flat, all-inclusive price for patients who want that lower-cost option.
References
- Wilding JPH, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1). N Engl J Med. 2021;384(11):989-1002. PubMed 33567185
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Prescribing Information for Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide). FDA.gov. 2025. FDA Drug Approvals Database
- Mercer. National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans, 2025: GLP-1 coverage findings. Mercer.com. 2025. Mercer.com