Questions to Ask Before Your GLP-1 Telehealth Consult (2026 Checklist) | PlexusDx

Last reviewed: May 12, 2026 Last updated: May 12, 2026

Written by: Jay Hastings , CEO of PlexusDx

Jay Hastings is the CEO of PlexusDx, a precision health company focused on genetic testing, blood biomarker insights, and personalized wellness recommendations. He has more than 20 years of experience across healthcare innovation, genomics, laboratory operations, healthcare investing, and strategic finance. His work has included scaling healthcare startups, leading CLIA lab integrations, and helping expand consumer access to precision health tools.

Medically reviewed by: Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA

Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA, is the PlexusDx Medical Science Liaison with a PharmD and MBA specializing in pharmacogenomics and clinical product development, with a proven ability to bridge the gap between genomic research and practical patient outcomes. Dr. Lee has more than 10 years of professional experience in clinical pharmacy, academia, and research.

This article is part of the PlexusDx Education Hub — your resource for evidence-based guidance on GLP-1 therapies, weight management protocols, and the genetic variables that shape every metabolic decision. Browse all Peptides & GLP-1 education

You booked a GLP-1 telehealth consult — or you're about to — and the smart move is to walk in with a written list of questions. The cash-pay GLP-1 category in 2026 is full of legitimate programs and a minority of platforms that auto-renew you into confusion or hand you a compounded vial without straight answers about pharmacy or dose. The questions below cover medical eligibility, medication source (FDA-approved vs compounded), pharmacy identity (503A vs 503B), total cost, follow-up access, and the urgent-symptom escalation plan. PlexusDx Semaglutide Injection, Tirzepatide Injection, and Microdose GLP-1 Protocol answer these questions in writing before you pay, paired with the optional Precision Peptide Genetic Test so the prescribing clinician can anchor titration to your GLP1R, FTO, MC4R, and TCF7L2 variants instead of a population average.

The seven non-negotiable questions before any GLP-1 telehealth consult

Before you enter a card for any GLP-1 telehealth program, seven questions should be answered in writing or in a recorded portion of the consult. 1. Am I medically eligible? The clinician should reference your BMI, specific conditions, current medications, and the contraindication screen — not a generic "you qualify." 2. Which exact medication, formulation, and starting dose? Name the molecule (semaglutide, tirzepatide, oral or injectable) plus starting dose with rationale. 3. Is it FDA-approved or compounded? FDA-approved means a finished product the FDA reviewed (Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Saxenda, Rybelsus). Compounded means a licensed pharmacy prepared the active ingredient under 503A or 503B rules — not FDA-approved. PlexusDx dispenses compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide and says so plainly. 4. Which pharmacy fills my prescription? A named pharmacy or pharmacy type, with accreditations on request. 5. What will I pay today, at month two, and at the highest maintenance dose? Three specific numbers in writing. 6. How do I reach a clinician between visits? A defined response window through a portal that routes to a clinician — not customer support. 7. What symptoms require urgent contact or emergency care? A list mirroring the FDA label warnings for the medication prescribed.

Why generic "ask your doctor" lists miss for telehealth

Most "questions to ask your doctor" lists were written for an in-office visit and skip the questions that drive cash-pay telehealth complaints — pharmacy disclosure, billing cycles, cancellation friction, refund cutoffs, state availability, and how you reach a clinician between visits. A telehealth GLP-1 platform is structurally three businesses stacked together: the platform brand you see in the ads (a technology company), the clinician group the platform contracts with (independent licensed physicians or NPs), and the pharmacy that actually fills the script (a 503A patient-specific compounding pharmacy, a 503B FDA-registered outsourcing facility, or a retail mail-order pharmacy for branded medication). That requires different questions of each layer at different moments — billing and pharmacy identity to platform support before you pay, medical fit to the clinician during the consult, and follow-up access through the post-consult portal.

The three-phase framework: pre-consult, during, after

Pre-consult questions decide whether to book or pay at all — total cost, refund cutoffs, state availability, what's included, whether labs are required, and whether the pharmacy is named. These belong in a chat or email with support before you give them a card. During the consult, the questions shift to clinical fit — medication selection rationale, dose justification, contraindication review, and red-flag symptoms. After the consult, the self-check: did the clinician review your medication list, explain titration in plain English, and send written confirmation of dose, schedule, and total cost. PlexusDx protocols are built so all three phases are knowable before purchase — pricing is on each product page, medication source is stated plainly, and the optional Precision Peptide Genetic Test ($298 standalone or $99 add-on after month one) gives the clinician an objective genetic baseline before titration.

Compounded vs FDA-approved — why the questions change

The most consequential question is whether the medication is FDA-approved branded or compounded, because regulatory framework, supply chain, and follow-up questions all change with the answer. FDA-approved branded GLP-1s include Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide), Zepbound and Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Saxenda and Victoza (liraglutide), Rybelsus (oral semaglutide), and Trulicity (dulaglutide) — finished products the FDA reviewed, with full prescribing information and post-market surveillance. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are pharmacy-prepared versions of the same active ingredients, not FDA-approved finished drugs. Mass compounding under the shortage exception ended in 2025 when FDA declared the shortage resolved; compounded GLP-1s now generally rely on the 503A patient-specific pathway and the requirement that a documented significant difference exists for the patient. PlexusDx uses compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide and never claims FDA approval. The boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors applies to both semaglutide and tirzepatide based on rodent studies, and a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or MEN2 is a contraindication for both.

Pharmacy identity: 503A vs 503B and how to verify

If the platform answers "compounded," the immediate follow-up is which pharmacy and which pathway. A 503A pharmacy is a state-licensed compounding pharmacy that prepares patient-specific prescriptions, regulated by the state board of pharmacy and not required to follow current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP). A 503B outsourcing facility is FDA-registered, inspected on a risk-based schedule, and required to follow cGMP. Neither produces FDA-approved drugs when compounding GLP-1s. Three verification steps: ask the platform to name the pharmacy or pharmacy type and its accreditations (PCAB, NABP Verified Pharmacy Program, ACHC); for a 503B facility, confirm registration on the FDA's 503B outsourcing facilities list; check the platform's own LegitScript certification if claimed. A platform that won't complete any of those three before you pay is one to ask more questions of. PlexusDx uses licensed U.S. compounding pharmacies and identifies the pathway on request.

Cost questions so month two isn't a surprise

Cash-pay GLP-1 telehealth pricing in 2026 ranges from roughly $74/mo on micro-dose entry tiers to $399/mo and up at branded tiers. "Starting at" pricing is where the most billing surprises live — the intro month is often a fraction of the steady-state price, which steps up again at higher maintenance doses. Ask three specific numbers: today, month two, and the highest maintenance dose you'd plausibly reach. Ask whether the program auto-renews, the cancellation cutoff, whether refunds apply once medication has shipped, and whether HSA and FSA cards are accepted. PlexusDx publishes flat or tiered pricing on every product page: Microdose GLP-1 Protocol at $129/mo flat, Semaglutide Injection at $149/mo, Tirzepatide Injection at $249/mo, Semaglutide Oral from $249/mo, Tirzepatide Oral at $279/mo, and GLP-Squared dual-compound at $249/mo. All-inclusive pricing covers async clinician consult, prescription, compounded medication, and shipping — cash-pay, no membership, all 50 states (five require a scheduled live consult).

The genetic-baseline question most checklists skip

One question that rarely appears on standard "ask your doctor" lists but increasingly should: do you offer a genetic baseline that informs my dose and titration before week one? GLP-1 response varies meaningfully across patients. Variants in GLP1R, GIPR (the GIP receptor tirzepatide also activates), FTO, MC4R, and TCF7L2 are associated with measurably different response patterns. The Precision Peptide Genetic Test maps 48 genes and 57 variants across 14 health pathways — 34 weight-management insights including the GIPR rs1800437 variant linked to differential GLP-1 response — so the prescribing clinician can decide whether a faster, slower, or tirzepatide-first titration fits your biology. Most cash-pay programs start every patient on a population-average titration and adjust by subjective tolerability over 8–12 weeks. PlexusDx anchors that conversation to a measurable baseline, $298 standalone or $99 as an add-on after your first month on any protocol.

The red-flag answers that mean walk away

Five answer patterns mean the consult is over before it started. "Everyone qualifies" or approval without a real medical intake is the biggest red flag — legitimate GLP-1 prescribing requires BMI documentation, contraindication screening (MTC/MEN2 history, pancreatitis, severe gastroparesis, pregnancy), and medication review. "FDA-approved compounded" or "same as Wegovy" is factually wrong; compounded products are not FDA-approved finished drugs. Refusing to name the pharmacy or pathway before you pay is a transparency failure. No total-cost detail until a card is entered is a billing-pattern flag. "Contact customer support" as the only escalation path for clinical questions is a clinical-coverage flag. Any one is enough to stop and ask follow-ups; two or more is enough to walk. Legitimate programs answer all seven non-negotiable questions plainly and in writing — including PlexusDx, where answers are published on the product page, in the intake portal, and confirmed by the prescribing clinician before titration.

Frequently asked questions

What's the single most important question to ask before starting a GLP-1 via telehealth?

If you can ask only one, ask: what is my total cost today, at month two, and at the highest maintenance dose, and which pharmacy fills my prescription? Those two pieces surface most of the opacity that drives consumer complaints in this category. PlexusDx publishes pricing on every protocol page and identifies the pharmacy pathway on request, so both halves are knowable before you pay.

Are compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide still legal in 2026?

Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide may be available through the 503A patient-specific pathway when applicable conditions are met, including that the compounded product is not regularly or inordinately a copy of the commercial drug and that a documented significant difference exists for the patient. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved finished products. Mass compounding under the shortage exception ended in 2025 when FDA declared the shortage resolved.

What's the difference between a 503A pharmacy and a 503B outsourcing facility?

A 503A pharmacy is a state-licensed compounding pharmacy that prepares patient-specific prescriptions; it is regulated by the state board of pharmacy and is not required to follow cGMP. A 503B outsourcing facility is registered with the FDA, inspected on a risk-based schedule, and required to follow cGMP. Neither produces FDA-approved drugs when compounding GLP-1s.

How do I verify the pharmacy before I pay?

Three steps. Ask the platform to name the pharmacy or pharmacy type and its accreditations (PCAB, NABP Verified Pharmacy Program, ACHC). For a 503B outsourcing facility, confirm registration on the FDA's 503B outsourcing facilities list. Confirm the platform's own LegitScript certification if claimed. PlexusDx uses licensed U.S. compounding pharmacies and identifies the pathway on request.

Do I need labs before starting a GLP-1 through telehealth?

Many providers require baseline metabolic labs (fasting glucose, A1c, kidney function, lipids, thyroid function), accept recent labs from the past 6–12 months, or order labs through a partner. Others review existing labs and may not require new baselines for patients without specific risk factors. Ask what your provider requires and what clinical reason supports it.

What do I do if I have a family history of thyroid cancer?

Ask specifically which type. GLP-1 medications carry an FDA boxed warning for personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or MEN2, based on rodent studies for both semaglutide and tirzepatide. More common thyroid cancer types are not contraindications. Bring details to the consult; do not self-disqualify.

Does PlexusDx perform a genetic baseline before titration?

Optionally, yes. The Precision Peptide Genetic Test maps 48 genes and 57 variants across 14 health pathways, including 34 weight-management insights and the GIPR rs1800437 variant linked to differential GLP-1 response. It is $298 standalone or $99 as an add-on after your first month, so the prescribing clinician can anchor titration to your biology rather than a population average.

Related reading on PlexusDx: GLP-1 Cost, Semaglutide Cost, Tirzepatide Costs, Cheapest GLP-1.

Disclaimer: This article is educational and is not medical advice. PlexusDx offers semaglutide and tirzepatide through its Weight Management Protocols. Pricing for telehealth providers referenced here is based on each provider's published rates as of April 2026; actual costs may vary by state, plan, and individual eligibility. PlexusDx does not sell, prescribe, or recommend any therapeutic peptide outside the GLP-1 category covered by its protocols. Discuss any GLP-1 medication decision with a licensed clinician.

Medical and Editorial Standards

Medical review process: This article was reviewed for medical accuracy, scientific clarity, evidence alignment, and appropriate discussion of genetics, medications, supplements, biomarkers, and health-related claims.

Sources and evidence: PlexusDx educational content is developed using peer-reviewed research, clinical literature, reputable medical references, and, where applicable, public health or regulatory guidance. References are included at the end of the article when scientific, medical, or health-related claims are discussed.

Commercial transparency: PlexusDx offers genetic testing, blood biomarker testing, personalized supplement recommendations, and related precision wellness services. Product mentions are intended to help readers understand available options and should not be interpreted as medical advice.

Important disclaimer: PlexusDx educational content is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about medications, supplements, genetic testing, lab testing, or health-related care.