Your True Total Cost: The Hidden Line Items Providers Don't Advertise
The number on a provider's homepage is rarely your actual monthly cost. Here's how to calculate what you'll really pay, line item by line item.
The full list to actually add up
| Line Item | Often Separate From Advertised Price |
|---|---|
| Base medication | The number usually advertised |
| Initial consultation | Sometimes bundled, sometimes not |
| Lab work | Frequently billed separately |
| Shipping | Often not shown until checkout |
| Membership/platform fee | Common at some providers, absent at others |
| Dose escalation increase | Rarely reflected in the initial "starting at" price |
SHED From $199
A physician-led program — ask for the full itemized cost breakdown, including labs and monitoring, before committing.
Wellorithm From $147
Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide — request the complete cost breakdown, not just the starting price, during your evaluation.
The calculation to actually do
Before comparing two providers' advertised prices, ask each one directly for your projected total monthly cost at maintenance dose, including labs, shipping, and any platform fees. The provider with the lower "starting at" number isn't necessarily cheaper once you add everything up — and that comparison is the one that actually matters.