How to Sign Up for Cora: Complete Medical Assessment Guide

The Signup Process: Overview

Getting started with Cora is designed to be fast without sacrificing medical thoroughness. From completing your assessment to receiving your first shipment typically takes 3–5 days. The entire process is handled online — no in-person clinic visits, no waiting rooms. Here is what to expect from start to finish.

Step 1: Complete the Medical Assessment

Your first step is filling out Cora's comprehensive health questionnaire at trycora.io/assessment. This is not a casual sign-up form — it is a real medical intake that a licensed physician will review. The assessment covers:

• Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI)
• Medical history: diabetes, cardiovascular disease, thyroid conditions, kidney disease, and other relevant diagnoses
• Current medications (to screen for interactions)
• Previous weight loss attempts and history
• Family history relevant to GLP-1 safety (especially thyroid cancer history)
• Lifestyle factors: diet, activity level, sleep patterns
• Personal weight loss goals
• Symptoms you hope GLP-1 therapy will address

Step 2: Physician Review

After you submit your assessment, a board-certified Cora physician reviews your information — typically within 24 hours, often faster. The physician evaluates your eligibility for GLP-1 therapy, identifies any contraindications, and selects the appropriate starting medication and dose. If the physician needs clarification, they'll message you through the portal. If you are eligible, your prescription is issued directly.

Step 3: Medication Selection

If your assessment is approved, you'll be prompted to select your medication. Your physician may recommend one over the other based on your health profile, but ultimately most eligible patients can choose between:

• Compounded Semaglutide (Essential Plan, $99–$175/month all-inclusive depending on commitment length) — GLP-1 receptor agonist, once-weekly injection. The STEP 1 trial (NEJM 2021) reported 14.9% mean weight loss with FDA-approved 2.4mg semaglutide over 68 weeks. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not therapeutically equivalent. Individual results vary.
• Compounded Tirzepatide (Premium Plan, $135–$225/month all-inclusive depending on commitment length) — dual GLP-1 + GIP receptor agonist, once-weekly injection. The SURMOUNT-1 trial (NEJM 2022) reported 22.5% mean weight loss with FDA-approved 15mg tirzepatide over 72 weeks. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not therapeutically equivalent. Individual results vary.

Step 4: Pharmacy Processing and Shipping

Once your prescription is confirmed and payment is processed, your prescription is sent to the compounding pharmacy. Your medication is prepared, quality-tested, and shipped via expedited delivery with cold-chain packaging. Tracking information is emailed as soon as the order ships. First-time orders typically arrive within 2–4 business days of prescription approval.

Step 5: Starting Your First Injection

Your medication arrives with detailed injection instructions, and your patient portal contains step-by-step video guides for self-injection. First-time injectors often feel nervous, but subcutaneous injections with the supplied pen needles are much simpler than most people expect. Your care team is available via portal messaging to answer any first-dose questions. All patients start at the lowest dose to minimize side effects.

Who Qualifies for Cora?

Cora's physician network can prescribe GLP-1 medications to adults who meet the following general criteria:

• BMI ≥ 30 (obese), OR
• BMI ≥ 27 with at least one weight-related comorbidity (e.g., hypertension, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol)
• Age 18 or older
• No personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2
• Not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
• No severe gastrointestinal conditions that would be worsened by GLP-1 therapy
• Resident of one of the 50 US states