Pros and cons
Pros
- Upfront cash prices for every visit, from $34, in all 50 states
- Weight-loss program sells FDA-approved GLP-1s only; compounded semaglutide 'not currently available'
- Brand medication cash prices displayed dose by dose via NovoCare and LillyDirect
- Providers do not prescribe controlled substances, and Sesame states it does not practice medicine
- No FDA warning letters, import alerts, FTC or AG actions found (checked 2026-08-19)
Cons
- Does not bill insurance at all; a visit is always out of pocket
- Providers set their own prices, so the program's headline rate is a floor, not a promise
- Two Sesame pages disagree on the program's starting price ($59 annual vs $99 monthly); both are correct for different plans
- Lab pricing is not available in New York, New Jersey or Maine
- Marketplace model means continuity depends on the provider you pick
Pricing and coverage
- Pricing
- As of 2026-08-19: telehealth visits from $34; weight-loss program $99/mo or $59/mo on an annual plan; medication extra; Sesame Plus $10.99/mo.
- Insurance
- No commercial insurance
- Notes
- Sesame does not accept Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance for visits; a provider can help with prior-authorization paperwork for medication.
Who Sesame is for
Sesame is a marketplace, not a clinic. You pick a licensed clinician, see the cash price before you book, and pay it. That makes it a good fit for anyone uninsured or on a high-deductible plan who wants a quick visit at a known price, and for readers who want a GLP-1 program with a lower monthly fee than the big membership programs and no compounded products.
What we checked
We read Sesame's telehealth-visit, weight-loss program, semaglutide and Zepbound medication pages, the Sesame Plus membership page and the terms of service on 2026-08-19. Vetting: no FDA warning letters (every 'Sesame' hit in the FDA database is a sesame-seed food letter), no import alerts, no FTC or state AG actions, no lawsuits found. Operating entity is Sesame, Inc., New York.
What it costs, as of 2026-08-19
- Telehealth visits from $34 (page title says from $37; both appear).
- Success by Sesame weight-loss program: $99/mo month to month, $59/mo on an annual plan; 3- and 6-month plans in between. The fee covers visits and messaging, not medication.
- Brand medication cash prices shown: Wegovy pill $149 to $299 by dose; Wegovy pen and Ozempic $199/mo for two months for new patients, then $349; Zepbound vials $299 to $449 and KwikPens $299 to $699 by dose.
- Sesame Plus: $10.99/mo or $99/yr for $10 off visits and one free lab a year (not in Washington State).
How the process works
Search, choose a provider, book, pay. Providers see patients only in states where they are licensed, including over video. For the weight-loss program the provider can help with insurance pre-authorization paperwork for the medication, but Sesame itself does not bill insurers.
How it compares
Sesame is cheaper per month than Ro Body and sells no compounded products at all, but you do more of the work: choosing a clinician, and handling insurance yourself. Against SHED it is more expensive per month for the medication (brand vs compounded) and far simpler in its terms.
Frequently asked questions
Does Sesame take insurance?
No. Sesame does not accept Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance and does not bill insurers. Some visits may be eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement; check with your plan.
Does Sesame sell compounded semaglutide?
Not as of 2026-08-19: its semaglutide page states compounded semaglutide is not currently available and providers can discuss brand alternatives.
Can I get a controlled substance through Sesame?
No. Sesame's terms state that providers on Sesame do not prescribe controlled substances.
When to talk with a clinician
A cash-pay visit is still a medical visit: bring your medication list and history. GLP-1s have contraindications and interactions; anyone with diabetes, thyroid cancer history, pancreatitis or kidney disease should discuss them with a clinician who knows their record.
How we chose and scored
Read Sesame's telehealth, weight-loss program, semaglutide, Zepbound, membership and terms pages on 2026-08-19; ran the vetting check; scored on five metrics against Ro Body, SHED and Trimi.
Compared to
Ro Body
Ro Body is the strongest pick when you want a brand-name GLP-1 and someone to fight your insurer for coverage; the membership fee is the thing to watch once the $39 first month ends.
SHED
SHED sells compounded semaglutide from $159 to $199 a month and brand-name options through a separate membership. The prices are real; so are the two-month minimum, the non-refundable fees, and a BBB complaint pattern about billing without shipment. Read the terms before you buy.
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