Form Health
≈ $850/mo 7.4/10 Strong
Best if you're insured (including Medicare)
Independent score 7.4/10 · we take no money from providersCheck Form Health → Read our full review → ← All GLP-1 drugs Drug guide
Best tirzepatide programs
The most effective GLP-1 for weight loss in head-to-head trials: what the evidence shows, and where to get it.
What tirzepatide is
A once-weekly dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist. Sold as Zepbound (FDA-approved for chronic weight management) and Mounjaro (FDA-approved for type-2 diabetes).
The brand drug (Zepbound) is FDA-approved. Compounded tirzepatide is NOT FDA-approved, so weigh that route on safety and transparency, not just price.
What the trials show
In the pivotal SURMOUNT-1 trial (NEJM, 2022), tirzepatide produced up to −20.9% mean body-weight change at 72 weeks (treatment-regimen estimand) versus −3.1% on placebo. These trials were funded by Eli Lilly, the manufacturer.
In the head-to-head SURMOUNT-5 trial (NEJM, 2025), tirzepatide produced −20.2% versus semaglutide's −13.7% at maximum tolerated doses, the largest weight loss of any FDA-approved GLP-1 to date.
Primary sources: SURMOUNT-1 (NEJMoa2206038) · SURMOUNT-5 (NEJMoa2416394). Every figure traces to our bibliography, with manufacturer funding disclosed. This is evidence reporting, not medical advice.
Programs we recommend that offer tirzepatide
The 4 programs below, out of the ones we recommend, prescribe tirzepatide, shown in our methodology order. No provider pays us anything. (These are FDA-approved brand programs; for the compounded route, see the compounded comparison.)
Ro
≈ $548/mo 7.0/10 Strong
Best for routing the brand drug through insurance
Independent score 7.0/10 · we take no money from providersCheck Ro → Read our full review →Found
≈ $250/mo 6.2/10 Good
Best for a coverage check before you commit
Independent score 6.2/10 · we take no money from providersCheck Found → Read our full review →Noom (Noom Med)
≈ $199/mo 5.6/10 Good
Best for an all-in price with built-in coaching
Independent score 5.6/10 · we take no money from providersCheck Noom (Noom Med) → Read our full review →Sort all of them by real all-in cost on the comparison page, or see the dated price index.
Will insurance cover tirzepatide?
It depends on your plan and indication. Most state Medicaid programs don't cover GLP-1s for weight loss (only a handful do). Check your state. On Medicare, a federal GLP-1 "Bridge" (~$50/mo) starts July 1, 2026. If you're denied, our free appeal templates help you push back.
How we stay independent
The programs above are ranked by our 31-point methodology, and we take no money from any of them. We just filtered our ranking to the ones that offer tirzepatide, never re-ordered by drug. Read what our independence costs us. Every clinical figure traces to a primary source in our bibliography; spot an error and we log the fix publicly. Not medical advice, consult a licensed clinician.
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