Our Ro review breaks down the brand’s services and pricing, including weight loss, sexual health, fertility, and more. Plus, a registered dietitian takes a look at Ro Body as a whole.
Ro is a telehealth company that offers access to care right from your computer or smartphone.
Keep reading for an overview of Ro’s services, pricing, and how it works. Plus, we interviewed Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, for her take on Ro Body — the brand’s weight loss program — from a dietitian’s perspective.
Ro is a telehealth platform offering products and services designed to address a wide range of health concerns. You can connect with a doctor, nurse, or coach for free on Ro’s website or app.
The company also offers a variety of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications delivered directly to your door in discreet packaging. These include those related to sexual health, weight loss, and more.
Ro is for adults who have certain health concerns that can be possible to treat virtually. It isn’t suitable for people who have chronic health conditions and require more complicated care, nor is it meant for urgent concerns or emergencies.
Ro is not a replacement for a visit with a primary care doctor or healthcare team. Instead, it aims to provide complementary services to better support your health needs at home.
If you haven’t visited a healthcare professional in the last 3 years, Ro probably won’t be a good fit.
Getting started with Ro depends on what type of products and services you’re looking for.
OTC products, such as the brand’s hair loss shampoo and multivitamins, can be purchased outright.
However, most concerns first require an online visit with a healthcare professional. They’ll walk through your medical history and listen to what you’re experiencing. Afterward, they’ll develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs. This may include writing a prescription if they feel it’s necessary.
Prescription medications are sent from the company’s network of nationwide pharmacies and delivered directly to your door in as little as 2 days.
In most cases, your online visit is free. After that, the amount you pay will vary depending on the prescribed medication, the dose, and the shipping frequency.
The one exception is the Ro Body Program, which pairs weight loss medications with a curriculum that promotes healthy habits. It costs $45 for the first month and $145 each month afterward, not including the cost of medications.
Ro prioritizes transparency by providing the price for each medication on its website, along with details on its safety and possible side effects.
Ro’s products and services are not covered by insurance, so you’ll need to pay out of pocket. However, some products may be eligible for reimbursement from your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA).
Pros
- offers both OTC and prescription treatments for a wide variety of health conditions
- convenient and accessible
- quick shipping in discreet packaging
- includes unlimited follow-ups with a healthcare professional
Cons
- not covered by insurance
- requires an internet connection and familiarity with technology
- some medications can be expensive
- offers compounded GLP-1 medications, which do not have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval
- some reports of slow response times, lack of communication, and issues with shipping and billing
The Ro Body Program is Ro’s weight loss program. The company claims the program can help you lose an average of 15% to 20% of your body weight within 12 months.
This claim is based on the results of clinical trials that evaluated the effects of the weight loss medications offered through the Ro Body Program, including Zepbound (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide).
These trials received funding from the medication manufacturers, which means there’s a potential for bias and conflict of interest.
The Ro Body Program includes:
- personal coaching from a dedicated health coach
- a metabolic lab test through Quest (or an at-home collection kit for an additional fee)
- ongoing support from a healthcare professional, including up to 24 video sessions per year
- a step-by-step online curriculum to help you build healthy habits, with lessons focused on nutrition, sleep, emotional health, and exercise
- insurance concierge services to help determine whether any prescribed medications may be covered by insurance
Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, commented that Ro Body could be a fit for people already enrolled in a weight loss program or working with a registered dietitian who hasn’t been able to lose weight through lifestyle changes alone.
However, she added, “Because it doesn’t offer tools and education to support lasting behavior change, Ro Body isn’t ideal if you’re new to weight loss or need guidance on how to make changes to your lifestyle that you can maintain long term.”
GLP-1s and other weight loss medications
For those who qualify, the Ro Body Program includes access to prescription weight loss medications. These are for a separate fee.
They include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, a type of medication to treat type 2 diabetes, which
Several GLP-1 medications have
Ro offers all of these in addition to Ozempic. While Ozempic only has approval for treating type 2 diabetes, doctors can also sometimes prescribe it off-label for weight loss.
Additionally, Ro offers compounded GLP-1 medications at a lower cost than their brand-name counterparts. Drug compounding involves mixing, combining, or changing the ingredients of a drug to create a new medication.
While these compounded GLP-1 medications contain the same active ingredient as branded versions, such as Ozempic, compounded medications
An expert’s take on the Ro Body program
We asked Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, for her thoughts on Ro Body. Here’s what she shared:
“As an RD, I appreciate that Ro Body offers a convenient way for people to access GLP-1 medications to assist with their weight loss efforts.
“Having ongoing support from your provider and a care team is also a plus. Not only is it helpful for adjusting your prescription as needed, but it’s important to have a licensed professional available to report side effects to or to ask questions about your care plan (rather than relying on an internet search).
“Because Ro doesn’t offer a comprehensive weight loss program, like Noom or WeightWatchers, it’s a better fit for people who are already working with a registered dietitian or enrolled in a weight loss program.
“After all, medications are just one piece of the weight loss puzzle. Lifestyle changes, like eating healthier and exercising more, are essential for optimal effectiveness and to improve your chances of maintaining a healthy weight after you stop taking the medication.”
In addition to weight loss medication, Ro offers a variety of other prescription medications and OTC products. Below, we highlight some standout products available through Ro.
Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation
Hair loss
Fertility
General health
Ro has accreditation by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and currently holds an A rating.
All Ro healthcare professionals are licensed in the United States, and the company claims to perform a background check and a license verification process for each professional. Each healthcare professional’s resume, medical license, and credentials are available for members to view on the platform.
The company has been involved in several lawsuits regarding digital accessibility, unsolicited marketing text messages, and copyright infringement.
Customer reviews are mixed
When it comes to Ro’s reputation online, opinions are mixed.
Happy customers frequently mention:
- the service’s convenience and affordability
- a professional and responsive customer service team
- thorough healthcare professionals
- discreet product packaging
On the other hand, less favorable reviews mention:
- dissatisfaction with the company’s return policy
- problems with deliveries
- difficulty canceling recurring subscriptions
- instances of being billed twice in the same month
- a lack of clear communication, especially after initial consultations
Several other telehealth platforms offer products and services similar to Ro’s.
Here are a few other popular options:
- Lemonaid: Lemonaid offers virtual visits and prescription medications to address a variety of health concerns, including mental health, men’s health, and women’s health. It’s designed to provide convenient and affordable care, with a flat fee of $25 for each visit.
- Hims and Hers: Offering support for sexual health, mental health, skin care, hair loss, and weight loss, Hims is a telehealth service that caters specifically to men. Its sister site, Hers, offers similar services that cater to women. As with Ro, online visits are free, and prices vary for specific medications and products.
- PlushCare: PlushCare is a membership-based service that can connect you to a doctor to address concerns related to primary care, mental health, or weight loss. It’s one of the few telehealth services that is in-network with many major insurance plans, and it provides affordable self-pay options for those without insurance.
Here’s a closer look at how these telehealth services compare:
• weight loss
• fertility
• hair and skin
• daily health
• phone
• video
• varying prices for specific products or medications
• mental health
• chronic conditions
• urgent care concerns (nonemergency)
• Self-pay: $19.99 per month for membership + $129 for each visit
• men’s health
• women’s health
• skin
• general health
• video
• phone
• varying prices for medications
• mental health
• weight loss
• hair and skin
• women’s health
• men’s health
• video
• phone
• varying prices for specific products or medications
Ro services and products are not covered by insurance. However, some products may be eligible for FSA or HSA reimbursement.
Yes, Ro is a telehealth platform that has Better Business Bureau accreditation. The service provides virtual consultations with licensed U.S. healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurse practitioners, and offers personalized treatment plans designed to address a variety of health concerns.
Ro offers several prescription medications that may be beneficial for weight loss, including Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, and Saxenda. Ro also provides information to help you make healthy lifestyle changes and build healthy habits.
However, there’s no research specifically to support the effectiveness of the Ro Body Program. Additionally, there’s limited information available on the specific guidelines of the program and how it compares with other weight management programs.
Ro can be a convenient and cost-effective option for people who want to improve certain aspects of their health or treat specific medical conditions without leaving home.
This digital health platform offers a range of prescription medications, OTC products, and at-home testing kits designed to support fertility, skin and hair health, sexual wellness, and weight management.
However, it might not be suitable for everyone, including people with health conditions requiring more comprehensive care, those who prefer in-person interactions with a healthcare professional, and those who have limited experience using technology.
Ro has mixed reviews online. Customers commonly complain about the billing and delivery processes. Some people also find the service’s communication to be lacking, especially after the initial visit.
Remember that people should not use Ro as a replacement for visits with a primary care doctor or healthcare team.