Testosterone Gel Cost in 2026: What a Month Really Costs at Your Dose

Testosterone gel cost is about $43–$77 per 30 days for a generic 1.62% pump at the label’s two-pump starting dose, based on published references checked September 17, 2026. This is medicine only, for readers comparing a prescription—not a diagnosis. Your prescribed dose, package, pharmacy, insurance, visits, and labs change the total. ^{1 2 3}

By TRT Provider Guide · Published September 2026 · Last verified: September 2026 · Editorial research, not clinically reviewed

Educational information, not medical advice.

The bottle price is only half the story. We found two things that can swing a yearly gel bill by $1,000 or more. Neither is clear from a bottle price alone. The first is printed right on your prescription.

Your number moves with five things: your prescribed dose, pump vs. packets, which pharmacy you use, your insurance rules and deductible, and whether you still need a prescriber and blood tests.

• This page is for you if: you have, or expect, a prescription for testosterone gel and want the real monthly and yearly cost before you pay.
• Start with a clinician first if: low testosterone hasn't been properly evaluated with symptoms or signs and repeat early-morning blood tests, you want children soon, or you have a history of prostate or breast cancer, a high red blood cell count, untreated severe sleep apnea, or a recent heart attack or stroke.

Testosterone gel prices at a glance

Different product—not a gel quote: Male Excel publishes compounded cream from $132/month, plus a $99 initial consultation, a $99/month membership, and shipping. Its cream is not FDA-approved. The separate program comparison below explains what those charges mean. ^{27 28}

These are published reference prices, not quotes. Your ZIP code, pharmacy, and exact prescription change them. Each number below shows its source and date. ^{1 2 3 8 9 30}

TRT Provider Guide is the independent decision resource for testosterone replacement therapy — helping U.S. adults understand how low testosterone is evaluated, compare online and local care models and providers, and choose the next step that fits their health needs, fertility plans, budget, state, and care preferences, with every material claim verified and dated.

🔎 What we actually verified: September 17, 2026

• Public sources checked: GoodRx and Drugs.com package-price tables; The HRT Club, Male Excel, Rex MD, Hone Health, and Taurus Meds product, pricing, FAQ, or terms pages; FDA and DailyMed product records and labels; Medicare.gov; the specific insurance documents cited below; FDA, HHS, and DEA materials.
• Recalculated here: package duration, 30-day equivalents, whole-package first-year costs, packet premiums, and the brand-versus-generic crossover. Each model states its assumptions.
• Provider-stated, not independently confirmed: what memberships include, lab schedules, pharmacy routing, state lists, and “average retail” claims. Reading a claim on a company’s page does not prove that a patient receives that service.
• Not done: we didn't buy medicine, open accounts, call pharmacies, or get a personal insurance quote. We did not independently check individual clinician or pharmacy licenses, test support, or test cancellations. The local pharmacy-price module did not return usable quotes. This is a public-source cost guide, not a hands-on review.

Before you price anything

Fertility. Testosterone from outside your body can lower sperm production. The AndroGel label says some men on testosterone have reduced fertility and that the effect may be permanent. If you want children soon, talk with a urologist or reproductive urologist before starting any testosterone. ^{3 26}

Diagnosis. The Endocrine Society recommends diagnosis only when symptoms or signs fit and testosterone results are consistently low, using accurate tests and appropriate repeat early-morning, fasting measurement. The gel labels require morning testing on at least two separate days before starting. Symptoms alone don't settle it. Neither does a quiz or one number. See our TRT blood-test guide. ^{3 25}

Urgent symptoms. Chest pain or sudden shortness of breath needs emergency care; call 911. New leg pain or swelling while using testosterone needs prompt medical assessment. ³

This page covers U.S. adult men with testosterone deficiency. The cost tables focus on skin-applied gels, not nasal testosterone. Care for women, teens, gender-affirming care, and nonmedical use follows different medical standards.

The right TRT provider is not the same for every person — it depends on whether low testosterone has been properly evaluated, your symptoms and health history, your fertility plans, your state, your insurance or cash-pay preference, your treatment-format preference, your budget, and whether online or in-person care is the better starting point. Some situations belong with primary care, urology, endocrinology, reproductive urology, or urgent or emergency care when the symptoms warrant it. Because a general answer cannot resolve those for you, use TRT Provider Guide's Find My TRT Path tool to map your situation to the right care route and the questions to ask before you pay.

👉 Map my care route with Find My TRT Path. It's free and educational. It doesn't diagnose anything or promise a prescription.

How we make money: TRT Provider Guide has affiliate relationships with Male Excel, Taurus Meds, and Hone Health and may earn a commission when readers start care through affiliate links on the site. The links to their cost guides below are internal research links, not direct enrollment links. None of the public offers verified here gives us a confirmed FDA-approved gel quote from those three providers, so none is our main gel-price answer. Links to GoodRx, Drugs.com, The HRT Club, Rex MD, and AndroGel.com are plain source links. We earn nothing from them. Read our affiliate disclosure.

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How much does testosterone gel cost per month?

Generic 1.62% testosterone gel costs about $43 for 30 days at the label's starting dose of two pumps a day, using GoodRx's published package reference checked September 17, 2026. Drugs.com lists the same strength and pump size at $55.73 to $77.13. On a 60-actuation pump, the label's lowest dose works out to about $21 per 30 days and its highest about $86 at the GoodRx reference price. ^{1 2 3}

Every price site quotes a package. What you want to know is how many days that package lasts. The FDA label answers that, so we did the math.

Two terms first. FDA-approved means the FDA reviewed the finished product for safety, effectiveness, and quality before it was sold. A generic is an FDA-approved copy of a brand-name drug. ⁴³

The 30-day cost at the listed label dose steps

How we calculated this: 30-day cost = package price × (units you use per day ÷ usable units in the package) × 30. Units per package and the listed dose steps come from each product's labeling. These are dose steps the label allows, not a recommendation. Your prescriber sets your dose. These are consumption-cost equivalents, not a promise that a pharmacy will sell part of a bottle. Gel products also aren't interchangeable. Do not swap strengths, brands, doses, or application sites without your prescriber's direction. ^{3 4 5 6 7}

Sources: GoodRx and Drugs.com package-price tables, checked September 17, 2026; FDA/DailyMed labeling for AndroGel 1.62%, AndroGel 1%, Testim, Fortesta, and Vogelxo. The Drugs.com 1% 2.5 g packet calculation uses two 30-packet boxes at $129.14 each. “Not listed” means no matching price was used in this comparison, not that the product is unavailable. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7}

Match the usable supply, not just the weight in an advertisement. The AndroGel labels describe 88 g pumps capable of dispensing 75 g of gel. The 1% label also describes cartons with two pumps, each delivering 75 g. That explains the different weight descriptions used here; it does not make every 75 g and 88 g listing interchangeable. Check the manufacturer and National Drug Code (NDC), the identifier for the specific package, with your pharmacist. ^{3 4}

The 1% pump labels differ. AndroGel 1% includes a 75 mg step; Vogelxo’s label moves from 50 mg to 100 mg when an increase is needed. The six-pump cost example is not a Vogelxo dosing step. ^{4 7}

The Fortesta row prices generic 2% gel. FDA lists the Fortesta brand as discontinued and notes that the discontinuation was not for safety or effectiveness reasons. A generic price listing still does not confirm stock at your pharmacy. ⁶

Three things jump out.

First, "testosterone gel" isn't one price. At label starting doses, a month of generic gel runs from $42.87 to $181.10 on the same price source. That's more than a 4× spread, before brand or insurance even enter the picture. ¹

Second, your dose is a price multiplier. On the 1.62% pump, one pump a day costs about $21 a month. Four pumps a day costs about $86 at that reference price. ^{1 3}

Third, price sites disagree. Drugs.com lists the 1.62% pump higher than GoodRx, but lists the 1.62% packets lower. Always get a quote for your exact package. ^{1 2}

One cost-guide mistake to watch for: a SingleCare guide, updated November 12, 2025, says a roughly $800 AndroGel bottle works out to "about $400 monthly." ³⁴ The label's starting dose is two pumps a day. A 60-pump bottle lasts about a month at that dose, not two. ³

How long does one bottle or box last?

Here's the 1.62% pump by the number of pumps written on a prescription. This model starts with no medicine on hand, uses the label's 60 usable pump actuations (full presses), keeps the dose and price unchanged, and rounds up to whole bottles for 365 days. ³

Packets and tubes are simpler. One packet or tube covers one day when that is the prescribed daily amount. A box of 30 then lasts 30 days; a prescription requiring two a day makes that box last 15 days. Whole-package purchases can leave medicine for the next budget period.

Your first month's price may not be your real price

The AndroGel 1.62% label sets your dose with blood tests. It calls for a morning testosterone level, taken before that day's dose, about 14 and 28 days after you start. The same two checks repeat after any dose change. ³ If your dose goes up one step, a month on the pump goes from about $43 to about $64.

Budget for the dose you end up on, not just the one you start on.

Why the first-year model uses 13 bottles, not 12

Twelve 30-day bottles cover 360 days, not 365. In the two-pump daily scenario, starting with no medicine on hand, covering the first 365 days takes 13 bottles and leaves 25 days of supply for the next period. Your refill timing must still follow the prescription, pharmacy, and plan rules. ³

There's also priming: preparing a new pump before the first use. The AndroGel 1.62% instructions describe three discarded priming presses, while the package is labeled to deliver 60 metered actuations. We use the labeled 60-actuation supply—not a speculative 57-actuation supply—in these calculations. Ask your pharmacist to confirm the days' supply for the exact product dispensed. ³

When you compare offers, keep three numbers separate:

• Price per fill: what you pay at the counter.
• 30-day equivalent: the fill price adjusted to 30 days.
• Cash for the year: what actually leaves your account in 12 months.

Don't let anyone call all three "monthly cost."

👉 Get your own number with the gel quote worksheet ↓. Fill in your package, days' supply, and quotes. No sign-up.

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Why can packets cost about 3.5 times as much as the pump?

The published price changes with the package. At the same listed 40.5 mg daily amount, the 1.62% packet reference is about 2.4 to 3.5 times the pump reference when comparing the lower pump price from each price guide. For 1% gel, two small packets a day cost about 2.3 times as much as one larger packet in the GoodRx table. ^{1 2}

This is the first of the two big-money findings. Same listed strength. Same daily testosterone amount. Different package—and a very different bill.

Annualized consumption-cost difference = 30-day difference × 365 ÷ 30, rounded to the nearest dollar. This compares the listed reference prices, not guaranteed savings or whole-package cash spending. Actual fills are rounded to whole packages and can leave unused supply at year-end. ^{1 2}

To be fair, packets exist for real reasons. They're single-use, easy to carry, and some people find them easier to measure. That's a fine choice when you make it on purpose. It's an expensive one when nobody told you there was another option.

What to say at your next visit or refill:

"At my dose, is there a pump version, or one larger packet, of this same product? What would a month cost? Would I need a new prescription?"

A package change needs your prescriber's okay. Don't change products or doses on your own to save money.

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How do you compare testosterone gel prices at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco, and Sam's Club?

There is no verified branch-specific price here for CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco, or Sam's Club. The published package tables checked September 17, 2026 show $42.87 on GoodRx and $55.73–$77.13 on Drugs.com for a generic 1.62% pump, but those are not quotes from your local store. Compare the exact same prescription and payment method before choosing a pharmacy. ^{1 2}

Here's the catch most people miss: a free coupon and a paid-plan price are not the same offer. GoodRx advertises GoodRx Companion, a paid plan that starts at $9.99 a month when paid yearly. A lower medication price is not necessarily a lower total after the membership fee. ³⁵

For a useful local comparison, ask each pharmacy to price the exact product and quantity on your prescription:

The branch-specific price module did not return usable quotes during our September 17, 2026 check. We have not substituted a national package reference for a local pharmacy quote. ¹

Look at the spread in the verified references: $42.87 versus $77.13 for the same listed strength and pump size. Over 13 bottles that's $557.31 versus $1,002.69, before any extra pharmacy or discount-plan fees. That is why a matched quote matters; neither reference promises your local price. ^{1 2}

A Mayo Clinic Connect member, posting as “fortunateoldman” in April 2024, described generic 1.62% as “as low as $41 per month” at two pumps a day. ³³ (A historical reader report, not a current price we verified.)

Will the pharmacy take a coupon for testosterone?

Ask the pharmacy before relying on it. A coupon listing is not confirmation that a particular pharmacy will process that discount for your prescription. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance and requires a valid prescription; a coupon does not change that. ²¹ Call ahead with the exact product and quantity.

Is a 90-day fill cheaper?

Sometimes. GoodRx says a larger fill can lower the total cost, but you'll need a prescription written for that amount, and some plans require mail order. ¹ Federal rules also say a Schedule III prescription can't be filled more than six months after it's written or refilled more than five times. ²⁰ Ask your prescriber and pharmacist what's allowed for your prescription.

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How much does brand-name AndroGel cost?

Brand AndroGel 1.62% listed at $40 a bottle at The HRT Club on September 17, 2026, plus membership, shipping where charged, and your own prescriber. Drugs.com's current brand reference was $719.70–$787.91 per 88 g bottle; the $600-range figures still shown on AndroGel.com are dated 2024. In our 13-single-bottle annual-membership model, the club costs less than generic only when the comparable generic total exceeds about $57.62 per bottle. ^{2 8 9 11}

This is the second big-money finding. Here's the same branded product across published channels, with current prices separated from historical listings.

The HRT Club also lists an authorized-generic 1% product: 30 packets of 50 mg testosterone gel 1%, listed as “AndroGel AG,” at $75. That is a different strength and package from the 1.62% pump. We checked the listing on September 17, 2026. ¹⁰

The $40 bottle, with membership and shipping added

The HRT Club's membership fee doesn't include medicine, shipping, lab tests, doctor visits, or taxes. Testosterone can't be set up for automatic refills there, and it is excluded from the club's multi-pack discount. ⁹ Here is the first-365-day, two-pump daily scenario, starting with no supply, at unchanged prices: 13 bottles, one bottle per medication order, with membership billed separately.

Math from The HRT Club's published prices and FAQ, checked September 17, 2026. These are medicine, membership, and shipping subtotals—not complete treatment costs. The prescription and pharmacy must permit the modeled fills; taxes and clinical charges are not included. ^{8 9}

When brand beats generic

Divide $749 by 13 bottles and you get $57.62. That's the crossover for this model, assuming comparable usable supply and the same clinical costs. Add any generic shipping or paid-coupon fees before comparing:

• If your comparable generic pump costs more than about $57.62 a bottle, brand AndroGel through the club's annual plan costs less in this 13-single-bottle model. The Drugs.com $77.13 reference would be $1,002.69 for 13 bottles, before other charges.
• If your comparable generic price is lower, generic costs less in the same model. Examples: $42.87 per bottle is $557.31 for 13 bottles; $55.73 is $724.49.
• At higher prescribed doses the order-size math shifts. At four pumps a day, the first 365 days require 25 bottles. If the prescription and pharmacy permit 12 two-bottle orders plus one single-bottle order, annual membership makes the paired $80 orders eligible for free shipping. That is $1,000 medicine + $99 membership + $10 shipping = $1,109, or $44.36 per bottle. Thirteen two-bottle orders cost $1,139, but buy 26 bottles—390 days of supply—not the 25 bottles needed in this 365-day model. ^{1 2 3 8 9}

Larger fills can change the crossover at the same dose, too. As a conditional example, four permitted three-bottle orders plus one single-bottle order still buy 13 bottles. With annual membership, the four $120 orders meet the free-shipping threshold and the last $40 order incurs $10 shipping: $520 + $99 + $10 = $629 before clinical costs and applicable taxes, or $48.38 per bottle. This is not a confirmed order option; the prescription and pharmacy must permit it. Use the shipping pattern you can actually obtain—not an assumed universal $57.62 crossover. ^{8 9}

Ask the club whether your prescription and its pharmacy allow the order size you're planning. Don't ask for more medicine than you're prescribed to hit a shipping threshold.

The club's product page says the medicine is HSA/FSA eligible. Its FAQ says the membership fee is not. Confirm how your own HSA or FSA handles each charge with the plan administrator. ^{8 9}

What the club is not: a clinic. It is a membership service that routes prescriptions to a dispensing pharmacy. You bring your own prescriber. Under the club's stated policy, testosterone prescriptions cannot be transferred in; your prescriber sends a new prescription to its named partner, Transition Pharmacy Services in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania. That is the club's policy, not a claim that federal law bans every testosterone prescription transfer. ¹⁰

Cancellation changes the comparison. Membership renews automatically. The terms say monthly cancellation takes effect at the end of the billing cycle; annual cancellation takes effect at the annual anniversary. Membership fees and medicine purchases are nonrefundable, so leaving early does not produce a prorated annual refund. We read those terms; we did not test cancellation. ³⁶

Who's behind the $40 price?

Here are the facts, without spin. The HRT Club's website footer reads "Copyright © 2026 Besins Healthcare, Inc." Its listed office is in Bridgewater, New Jersey. ⁸ The current AndroGel labels name Ascend Therapeutics US, LLC, of Bridgewater, New Jersey, as the company that markets AndroGel. ³ AndroGel.com carries a Besins Healthcare copyright and sends shoppers to The HRT Club. Its listed price there is "from $30," dated 2024. The club lists $40 today. ¹¹

We're telling you because you'd want to know who runs a discount channel. It doesn't change the math above.

👉 Check The HRT Club's current AndroGel price. This isn't a paid link. Bring your own prescriber.

Is generic testosterone gel the same as AndroGel?

FDA-approved generic versions of AndroGel 1.62% exist. For example, the FDA approved Xiromed's testosterone gel 1.62% under application ANDA 210835. ¹² Ask your pharmacist whether your prescription allows substitution and which manufacturer you'll get. Different strengths, like 1% and 1.62%, are not swapped dose-for-dose. ^{3 4}

Is there an AndroGel coupon or copay card?

It's unclear. AndroGel.com's fine print tells pharmacists how to process a copay card for commercially insured patients. The same terms exclude Medicare, Medicaid, VA, Department of Defense, and TRICARE. Drugs.com says it found no manufacturer promotions. ^{11 2} Ask your pharmacist, or call the number on AndroGel.com (1-877-204-1013), before you count on one.

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Does insurance cover testosterone gel?

Some plans cover testosterone gel, but coverage is product- and plan-specific. The documents we checked use prior authorization, preferred-product rules, or quantity limits, and one commercial plan places 1.62% gel behind first-line products. What you pay depends on your plan's covered-drug list, deductible, and coverage criteria—not a national copay estimate. ^{16 17 18 19}

Four terms decide your price:

• Formulary: your plan's list of covered drugs.
• Prior authorization: the plan must approve the drug before it pays.
• Step therapy: the plan requires a preferred treatment first unless its exception rules are met.
• Quantity limit: a cap on how much the plan covers per fill.

Here's what the specific 2026 plan documents we checked say about testosterone gel. These examples do not establish coverage under a different employer, state, or benefit plan.

One plan's rules aren't your plan's rules. Check your own formulary.

Coverage summaries need context, too. GoodRx's generic testosterone page says the drug isn't covered by most Medicare and insurance plans. Its AndroGel page reports 71% coverage and a $32.50–$50 copay for the most common version. Those page-level figures do not identify your plan, exact product, benefit year, or deductible position, so we do not use them to predict your coverage. ^{1 13}

The cheap-gel paradox

On the Mass General Brigham Health Plan policy above, the 1.62% pump is second-line even though it has the lowest cash reference among the gel packages in our table. Prior coverage and clinical exceptions can change whether another treatment must be tried. Ask your prescriber which product is right for you medically. Then compare your own plan price with the cash price. ^{1 2 17}

Coupon or insurance: which should you use?

Ask the pharmacist to run both prices. You can't combine them. GoodRx says its coupons work instead of insurance, not together with it. ¹⁴

The deductible window. Your deductible is what you pay before the plan starts sharing the costs subject to that deductible. Before you meet it, a covered fill can cost more than a cash coupon quote. But GoodRx says cash purchases with its coupons aren't automatically counted toward a Medicare Part D deductible or yearly out-of-pocket total. ¹⁴ With other plans, ask whether a cash purchase counts. Keep your receipts.

Does Medicare cover testosterone gel?

The 2026 Part D coverage-review form we checked includes testosterone gel, but it does not prove coverage for every enrollee or every product. Ask your own plan about formulary status, prior authorization, quantity limits, and preferred pharmacies. Here are Medicare's own 2026 standard-benefit figures: ^{15 19}

• Deductible: no Part D plan can have a deductible above $615 in 2026. Some have none.
• After the deductible: under the standard benefit, you pay 25% of the cost of covered drugs.
• Yearly cap: once your out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs reaches $2,100, you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of 2026. ¹⁵

That $2,100 cap is for your qualifying out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs. It is not a cap on all TRT care, plan premiums, noncovered drugs, doctor visits, or lab tests. The AndroGel copay card's terms exclude Medicare. You can still compare a GoodRx cash price with your plan price, but you do not use both for the same fill. ^{11 14 15}

What about Medicaid?

Coverage depends on your state's Medicaid plan. Ask your state plan, or its pharmacy benefit manager, three things: whether your exact gel is covered, whether it needs prior authorization, and which pharmacies you can use. There's no single national Medicaid price for testosterone gel. GoodRx coupons can't be combined with Medicaid. ¹⁴

Insurance said no. What now?

1. Get the reason in writing. A denial letter should say why.
2. Ask your prescriber whether the plan needs more paperwork, such as two morning test results.
3. Ask whether a first-line product on your plan is right for you.
4. Ask about an appeal and its deadline.
5. Compare the cash price using the tables above.
6. Don't switch products on your own. Any change goes through your prescriber.

In April 2024, Mayo Clinic Connect member “vincescs” said insurance was “refusing to approve payment for generic AndroGel” after a job change and described age-related low testosterone as the reason. ³³ That is one person's historical account, not a current plan rule. The AndroGel labels we checked, revised October 2025, still say safety and effectiveness in age-related hypogonadism have not been established. ^{3 4}

On June 18, 2026, HHS announced that the FDA had requested class-wide label changes, including removing that limitation. ²⁴ A request isn't the same as a changed label. The specific label and plan policy still need to be checked; no one can promise when a plan will change its coverage rules.

👉 Build an insurance-first plan with Find My TRT Path. It covers the care route and the questions to bring to your appointment. Or compare TRT providers that take insurance.

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What do you pay for besides the gel?

The AndroGel 1.62% label calls for morning blood tests on two separate days before starting, testosterone checks about two and four weeks after starting or changing the dose, and a hematocrit recheck at three to six months. That does not automatically mean a fixed number of separately billed blood draws: existing results, combined panels, and follow-up timing matter. Visits, tests, and prescription renewals belong in the budget alongside the gel. ³

Here's what the labels ask for. Read it like a bill.

Sources: FDA labeling and prescribing information for each product. ^{3 4 5 6}

The AndroGel labels also call for:

• A hematocrit test before starting, again at 3 to 6 months, then yearly. Hematocrit is the share of your blood made of red blood cells, and testosterone can push it up.
• Periodic checks of testosterone, PSA (a prostate blood marker), liver tests, and cholesterol.
• Blood pressure checks. ^{3 4}

An illustrative year-one budget on AndroGel 1.62%, with no dose changes: two diagnostic draws, two early dose-check draws, and a later hematocrit recheck would mean about five collection visits if none is already complete and the later tests are not combined with other draws. This is not a universal minimum or five separate bills. A dose change calls for further checks around days 14 and 28; ask how those will be scheduled and charged. Your clinician may need other tests. ³

What does a draw cost? It depends on your insurance and lab. As one published example, Hone Health's current Plus page lists a confirmation testosterone panel at $45 at a lab, while its TRT testing-schedule page lists $50; both list $80 at home. That is a conflict between the company's published pages, not a confirmed personal quote. Ask which amount applies before paying. ^{29 38}

Prescription renewals

Federal rules say a Schedule III prescription can't be filled or refilled more than six months after it's written, or refilled more than five times. ²⁰ Ask when your prescription needs renewal and whether that requires a paid visit. The rule itself does not set a universal two-visit fee or a fixed annual visit schedule. ⁴⁴

Here's the truth most price pages skip. If you already have a doctor, gel can be one of the cheaper ways to take testosterone. If you don't, the bottle isn't really what you're shopping for. You're shopping for someone to test you, prescribe, and keep checking.

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What does testosterone gel cost for a full year?

With your own prescriber, our first-365-day, two-pump daily model costs $557.31–$1,002.69 for 13 generic 1.62% bottles, before visits, labs, and any pharmacy fees. Brand AndroGel through The HRT Club comes to $749 with annual membership and 13 separate shipping charges, before clinical costs and applicable taxes. Online-program prices below use different products and billing periods, so they are not interchangeable gel quotes. ^{1 2 3 8 9}

Online-care charges: separate product categories, not gel quotes

Compounded cream—not FDA-approved gel:

Public pharmacy and provider pages checked September 17, 2026. Provider inclusions and billing terms are provider-stated. Online totals assume 12 membership/program payments and the initial charges shown, with no price or dose changes; they are not promises of a complete 365-day treatment supply. ^{1 2 8 9 27 29 30 31}

Male Excel's 60-day supply changes the cash calendar. The $2,871 rate estimate includes $1,584 of cream—six $264, 60-day orders, or 360 days of supply. Starting empty, a strict every-60-day refill model would need a seventh order before day 365: $99 + $1,188 membership + $1,848 medicine = $3,135 before shipping, with supply left for the next period. Male Excel describes medication billing as every other month, so get the actual invoice dates and quantities rather than assuming either model is your bill. ²⁷

Taurus's extra fee is unresolved. Its terms list $17.99 per billing period while the offer says no membership fees. If that fee applied 12 times, it would add $215.88 and make the modeled subtotal $2,052.88. We have not confirmed that it applies monthly—or at all—to this specific offer. Do not treat that conditional number as a gel quote. ³¹

Your complete first-year total = medication fills + required membership or program charges + shipping + initial and repeat testing + visits + renewals + any applicable taxes or other disclosed fees. Do not add a visit, test, or medicine charge twice when it is already included in a program. Treat missing charges as unknown, not zero. For the wider care budget, see TRT costs.

Find yourself here

These are editorial care-route suggestions based on the dated prices, product disclosures, and clinical guidance above—not personal treatment recommendations. ^{1 2 3 8 9 25 27 29 30 31}

👉 Have a prescriber? Use the gel quote worksheet ↓ to get the missing costs in writing. No prescriber yet? Keep reading.

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No prescriber yet? What do online programs charge, and which ones sell gel?

Among the four online programs examined here, Rex MD explicitly names an FDA-approved generic 1.62% gel, but its $250–$299 monthly range plus $99 is not a gel-specific quote. Male Excel and Hone Health publish compounded creams instead; those are not FDA-approved gels. Without a prescriber, what you're really paying for is the clinician and the lab schedule. ^{12 27 29 30}

Quick reminder: we have affiliate relationships with Male Excel, Taurus Meds, and Hone Health; the links below lead to internal research guides rather than directly enrolling you. We earn nothing from Rex MD or The HRT Club. Planning to have children soon? Start with a urologist or reproductive urologist, not an online TRT program. See our TRT and fertility guide. ^{25 26}

Compounded means a pharmacy mixed the product for patients. The FDA doesn't approve compounded drugs or review them for safety, effectiveness, and quality before they're sold. ²⁶ A compounded cream is a different product category. It isn't a generic version of an FDA-approved gel.

The federal telemedicine extension runs through December 31, 2026. It permits eligible DEA-registered clinicians to prescribe Schedule II–V controlled medicines by audio-video telemedicine without a prior in-person evaluation when the rule's conditions and other federal and state requirements are met. States and prescribers can still require an in-person exam; your physical location and the clinician's authority matter. No online form guarantees a prescription. Compare online and local TRT care before choosing a program. ^{22 23}

Rex MD: the program that names gel (not an affiliate)

Here's what Rex MD published when we checked on September 17, 2026:

• Product: its safety information names testosterone gel 1.62% and points to Xiromed, which has an FDA-approved generic. ^{30 12}
• Price: $99 up front for a lab panel and video consult, then $250–$299 a month depending on the medication. The company says the ongoing price covers medication, shipping, ongoing labs, and at least one video visit a year. It does not publish a gel-specific quote.
• Lab process: its page names Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp for the initial panel, then follow-up labs three months after starting and every six months after that.
• Delivery: confirm the dispensing pharmacy, shipment frequency, and whether someone must sign before paying; these were not established as gel-specific terms in our check.
• Refunds: its terms say prescription products can't be returned or refunded. ^{30 40}

Before paying, ask for the gel-specific monthly price. Ask whether the label's day-14 and day-28 checks are included. Confirm your state is served.

👉 Review Rex MD’s published program and pricing. This isn't a paid link.

Male Excel: compounded cream, not gel, with a clinician membership (affiliate)

Male Excel's published topical offer is compounded cream, not testosterone gel. Its no-needle option is a compounded testosterone cream, not an FDA-approved product, and the pricing page packages it with a thyroid tablet. Twelve months at its advertised rates total about $2,871 before shipping, but that is not automatically 365 days of medication; the refill model above shows the difference. ²⁷

If an FDA-approved gel is your priority, price it through your own prescriber and pharmacy first. Without a prescriber, start with an appropriate local clinician or ask Rex MD for a written gel-specific quote; the published program range does not establish the lowest total cost.

But Male Excel builds its price around a clinician membership, not the medicine. That may fit a reader looking for coordinated care rather than arranging each service separately. According to Male Excel, the $99 monthly membership includes a dedicated medical provider, unlimited e-visits with that provider, and unlimited messaging with its support team. If you're open to injections, those start at $120 a month. Membership and medication are separate charges—not one monthly bill. ²⁷

What Male Excel publishes (checked September 17, 2026): ^{27 28}

• $99 online medical consultation to start; the FAQ says an at-home hormone test kit is included
• $99 per month for the required medical membership
• Testosterone cream from $132 per month, sent as a 60-day supply and billed every other month
• Testosterone injections from $120 per month
• Shipping and handling cost extra
• Male Excel says it accepts FSA/HSA payment; eligibility depends on the charge and your plan
• "No contract, cancel anytime"
• Not covered by insurance
• If your dose changes, your price changes

Also worth knowing: Male Excel's FAQ names AnazaoHealth in Tampa, Florida, and WellDyneRx in Lakeland, Florida, as dispensing pharmacies. It lists these states where it does not prescribe hormone treatment: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island (checked September 17, 2026). These are company disclosures, not our independent license checks. ²⁸

The thyroid tablet needs its own explanation. Ask whether it is optional, what separate diagnosis supports it, the exact product, and how leaving it out changes the price. Male Excel's terms discuss unapproved desiccated thyroid. FDA's current notice says animal-derived thyroid medicines are not FDA-approved; it also says those biological products are not eligible for ordinary drug compounding and describes risk-based enforcement. Do not assume a bundled thyroid medicine is approved or medically needed because you are considering testosterone. ^{37 39}

Three terms affect the budget and fit. Male Excel's terms require use of its contracted pharmacies, so do not assume you can use the retail gel coupons above within this program. Its “cancel anytime” marketing does not mean a refund: the terms generally make fees, including membership fees, final and nonrefundable except where a written policy provides otherwise. The terms also disclose that medication does not come in child-resistant packaging; discuss safe storage and topical-transfer risk before choosing the program. ^{27 37}

Ask about the second test and early monitoring. An included home kit does not by itself establish the required repeat morning results or all follow-up testing. Before paying, get the testing method, need for an in-person visit, repeat-test charges, early monitoring plan, medication refill dates, and medical-record access in writing. ^{3 25 28}

Skip Male Excel if:

• You want insurance to pay.
• You specifically want an FDA-approved gel.
• You live in one of the states listed above.
• You want children soon.
• Low testosterone hasn't been properly evaluated and you'd rather start with a local exam.

On its pricing page, Male Excel quotes a patient named "Dan" calling it "more cost effective than many of the clinics around me." ²⁷ (Published by Male Excel. We can't verify it, and it says nothing about medical results.)

Does this sound like your situation? No prescriber, open to compounded cream rather than an FDA-approved gel, and looking for a care program with clinician messaging? Read the cost breakdown before deciding whether the separate membership, medication, and testing arrangements fit. A paid consultation does not guarantee a prescription.

👉 Read Male Excel’s costs, exclusions, and billing terms

Compare that guide with Male Excel's current published pricing before paying.

Hone Health: membership with scheduled labs (affiliate)

Here's what Hone published when we checked on September 17, 2026: ^{29 38}

• Plus membership: $135 a month, with medication extra. Premium is $155 a month.
• Starting tests: a $45 home test kit, plus confirmation testing when required. Its Plus page says $45 at a lab; its testing-schedule page says $50. Both list $80 for home confirmation. Confirm the conflicting lab price before paying.
• Year-one labs: at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, plus physician video visits, included in the membership.
• Medication: its Plus page explicitly marks testosterone cream and troches as compounded. The cream is about $60 a month. That page does not mark every injectable product as compounded; confirm the exact injection product rather than applying the cream’s status to it.
• Insurance: Hone doesn't bill insurance or handle prior authorizations. It says it processes HSA and FSA cards.
• Your own pharmacy: Hone says it can send eligible prescriptions to a pharmacy you choose. It doesn't guarantee specific brands, and it notes that most major retail pharmacies don't fill compounded prescriptions.
• States: men's Plus is listed in 35 states and Premium in 34. Neither is listed in 14 states plus D.C.

We couldn't confirm whether a Hone clinician will prescribe an FDA-approved gel to an outside pharmacy. Ask before joining if gel is what you want. Also ask whether the label-specific early checks are included, rather than assuming the routine three-month schedule covers them. ^{3 29}

Cancel both billing streams. Hone's current policy says membership and prescription orders are separate. Canceling one does not automatically cancel the other. It does not refund partial membership months, processed or shipped medication orders, or lab fees after a kit ships. Ask how to retain your results and visit records before closing the account. ⁴¹

👉 Compare Hone’s membership, medication, and cancellation costs. Check the current company-published state list separately.

Taurus Meds: gel product not confirmed (affiliate)

Taurus's own offer page puts a “Testosterone Gel” heading above text that describes an injection. ³¹ We couldn't confirm which gel it dispenses or what that gel costs. The same offer lists $49 for testing and a consult, then $149 a month, while the terms list a possible $17.99 charge per billing period. Get the exact product, all required fees, repeat-test and monitoring coverage, state access, dispensing pharmacy, and refund terms in writing before paying.

Its cancellation policy requires at least 72 hours' notice before billing; otherwise another cycle may be charged. The refund page contains different descriptions of medical-disqualification refunds, so we do not promise a specific refund amount. These unresolved product and billing details are why we link to the product investigation rather than a signup page. ^{31 42}

👉 See what we found about Taurus Meds' gel

The HRT Club: cheapest brand gel we found, but not a clinic

The HRT Club sells the medicine, not the medical care. If you find a prescriber first, its $40 AndroGel bottle is covered in the brand section above.

Want the care models and product disclosures side by side? Compare them on our best testosterone gel providers page.

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Is testosterone gel cheaper than injections or cream?

A testosterone cypionate vial can have a lower price than a gel pump, but that alone does not show which costs less per month. A 10 mL vial of 200 mg/mL was listed at $35.75–$50.00 on Drugs.com and $48.79 on GoodRx on September 17, 2026; the usable days' supply and any discard date still matter. Gel skips needles but adds a daily routine and a risk of passing testosterone to others. ^{2 3 32}

Compounded cream is a separate category: Hone lists cream around $60/month and Male Excel from $132/month, plus their separate memberships. These creams are not FDA-approved. The formula depends on the pharmacy, and the program’s price is not a quote for a generic gel. ^{26 27 29}

Sources: Drugs.com, GoodRx cypionate package table, and the named provider pages, checked September 17, 2026. These are different products and package sizes, not dose-equivalent substitutes. ^{2 32 27 29}

A treatment format is how the medicine gets into your body: injection, gel, cream, oral medicine, and so on. Switching formats is a medical decision, not a budget move. A clinician has to choose the new product and plan its follow-up.

If you have young kids or a pregnant partner, factor in transfer risk. Testosterone gel labels carry a boxed warning. Children who touched skin where a man had applied gel developed early signs of puberty. ³ See the household-risk table on our best testosterone gel providers page.

More options: best testosterone cypionate providers · TRT without needles · best testosterone cream providers

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Can you buy testosterone gel online or over the counter?

Online dispensing can offer a lower price, but testosterone gel is not an over-the-counter medicine. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance, and legitimate U.S. dispensing requires a valid prescription. The “testosterone boosters” sold as supplements are not prescription testosterone gel; a no-prescription website is not a substitute for clinical evaluation and a licensed pharmacy. ^{21 3}

If a site offers testosterone gel without a prescription, walk away. Before paying, check that the service:

• Requires a valid prescription from a licensed prescriber
• Names the licensed pharmacy that fills it
• Uses a dispensing pharmacy authorized to serve your state (check with your state board of pharmacy)

A pharmacy also has a responsibility to check that a controlled-substance prescription has a legitimate medical purpose. The prescriber’s location alone does not settle which prescriptions a pharmacy can fill; state rules matter. ⁴⁴

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Which testosterone gel costs are easiest to miss?

The easiest costs to miss are a 13th bottle in a first-year 30-day-fill model, a prescribed dose change, a packet prescription, a paid coupon membership, and follow-up testing. Pharmacy memberships and online programs can add shipping, nonrefundable fees, and medication billing that does not match calendar months. Check each charge rather than treating the bottle price as the complete bill.

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What should you ask before you pay for testosterone gel?

Ask how many days your package lasts at your prescribed dose, what each fill costs, and whether a cheaper package or covered version of the same product exists. If you're using an online program, ask whether the product is an FDA-approved gel or a compounded preparation, and which pharmacy fills it. Treat any cost that's still unknown as unknown, not zero.

Most of the missing money on a gel bill is in questions nobody asked. Use this worksheet to compare two quotes. Save it or print it; you don't need to sign up for anything. Don't put your name, date of birth, or lab results into any online calculator.

The testosterone gel quote worksheet

Ask the pharmacist:

"Please price the exact product, package, and quantity on my prescription. How many days does it last at my dose? What's the price with my insurance, as cash, and with any coupon you accept? Is there a pump or single-packet version of this same product? Will you accept a coupon for this controlled substance?"

Ask your insurance plan:

"Is this exact gel covered, and on which tier? Does it need prior authorization or step therapy? Is there a quantity limit? Where am I on my deductible? If I pay cash with a coupon, does it count toward my deductible or out-of-pocket total?"

Ask your prescriber, or an online program:

"Which exact product would you prescribe, and is it FDA-approved or compounded? Which pharmacy fills it? How many blood draws will I need in the first three months, and what do they cost? When will I need a new prescription? What's included in the monthly price, and what happens to billing and my records if I cancel?"

If you only ask two questions, ask these:

1. "At my dose, how many days does this package last, and what does each fill cost?"
2. "Is there a cheaper package, or a covered version, of this same product?"

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How did we check these prices?

We read the product labels to learn the usable units in each package and the monitoring each label calls for. Then we applied dated public price tables, company terms, Medicare's 2026 rules, and the specific insurance documents cited above. We didn't buy medicine, open accounts, or call pharmacies; a published price is evidence of what was displayed, not a verified transaction.

Our documented method is How We Review TRT Providers. It separates four kinds of claims:

• Verified public-source facts: what a cited page or label says on the check date, including displayed prices, usable package units, and the scope of a specific plan policy.
• Company-stated facts: what a membership includes, lab schedules, pharmacy arrangements, state lists, and service terms. We verify the wording, not delivery of the promised service.
• Customer-experience signals: reader reports, clearly labeled.
• Our editorial conclusions: the crossover, the package-cost comparison, and the route recommendations. These are our analysis of the facts above.

It also asks for the complete cost instead of repeating a low starting price. Where required care charges are unknown, this page labels the calculation as a subtotal or rate estimate rather than inventing a complete bill.

What we couldn't confirm:

• Your local pharmacy quote and coupon acceptance
• Your personal coverage, days' supply, and refill dates
• Whether an AndroGel copay card is active, and its amount
• Whether a Hone clinician will prescribe an FDA-approved gel to an outside pharmacy, and which conflicting confirmation-test price applies
• The exact gel Taurus Meds dispenses and whether its extra billing-period fee applies to the advertised offer
• A gel-specific Rex MD price or inclusion of every early label-timed test

Lab prices vary too widely for a single national figure, so we show a published example instead.

What we didn't do: we didn't check individual clinician or pharmacy licenses, test customer support, or test cancellations. We haven't purchased from, held an account with, or been treated by any company named here.

Spot a price that changed? Tell us through our corrections page. See our editorial standards and privacy policy.

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Testosterone gel cost: what else should you know?

The useful price is the cost of your exact prescription for a known number of days, plus the care and fees it requires. These answers summarize the dated references and limits above; they are not personal pharmacy quotes.

How much is testosterone gel per month without insurance?

Generic 1.62% gel has published references of about $43–$77 for a 30-day supply at the label's two-pump starting dose, checked September 17, 2026. The other generic gel examples range from about $74 to $258 per 30 days across the sources and packages shown. Your dose, package, pharmacy, and extra care charges can change the total. ^{1 2 3}

How long does a bottle of testosterone gel last?

A 60-actuation bottle of 1.62% gel lasts 30 days at two pumps a day and 15 days at four. Our first-365-day model starts with no supply and uses the label's 60 delivered actuations, so it needs 13 bottles at two pumps daily. Ask your pharmacist to confirm the days' supply for your prescription. ³

Why is brand-name AndroGel so expensive?

The published brand price varies sharply by channel. Drugs.com's reference was $719.70–$787.91 per 88 g bottle on September 17, 2026. The HRT Club listed $40 plus membership and any shipping; AndroGel.com's $600-range comparisons were explicitly dated September 4, 2024. Those figures do not establish what most pharmacies charge or why. ^{2 8 9 11}

What is the cheapest testosterone gel?

At the listed label starting doses, the generic 1.62% pump had the lowest generic monthly reference in our package comparison. The HRT Club's $40 brand bottle adds membership and possible shipping, so it is not automatically cheaper overall. Compare your exact pharmacy quote with the complete dispensing subtotal before choosing. ^{1 2 8 9}

Does GoodRx work for testosterone gel?

GoodRx publishes testosterone gel discount prices, but confirm that your pharmacy accepts the specific coupon for your prescription. Also check whether the offer needs a paid membership. A coupon does not replace the prescription requirement. ^{1 21 35}

Can I use GoodRx with my insurance or Medicare?

Not on the same fill. GoodRx says its coupon is used instead of insurance, and that a cash purchase isn't automatically counted toward a Medicare Part D deductible or out-of-pocket total. Ask the pharmacist to compare both prices. ¹⁴

Does Medicare cover testosterone gel?

Coverage depends on your Part D plan and exact product. The 2026 coverage-review form cited here includes topical testosterone; Medicare's 2026 maximum Part D deductible is $615, and its annual threshold for qualifying out-of-pocket costs on covered Part D drugs is $2,100. That is not a cap on all TRT care, and the AndroGel copay-card terms exclude Medicare. ^{11 15 19}

Does Medicaid cover testosterone gel?

It depends on your state's Medicaid plan. Ask the plan whether your exact gel is covered, whether it needs prior authorization, and which pharmacies you can use. There's no national Medicaid price. Check your own plan rather than applying the Medicare examples above to Medicaid.

Is there an AndroGel savings card?

It's not clear. AndroGel.com's terms describe a copay card for commercially insured patients that can't be used with Medicare or other government programs. Drugs.com found no manufacturer promotions. Ask your pharmacist or use the manufacturer's contact number, 1-877-204-1013, rather than assuming a card is available. ^{2 11}

Does the price go up if my dose goes up?

At an unchanged price per bottle, a higher prescribed number of pumps per day uses the bottle faster. On the 1.62% pump, one pump a day works out to about $21 per 30 days, and four pumps to about $86 at the GoodRx reference price; a program or copay may use different pricing rules. Your dose is set by your prescriber, often after early blood tests. ^{1 3}

How much do the blood tests cost?

It depends on your insurance and lab. Hone's current official pages disagree on lab-based confirmation—one says $45 and another $50—while both list $80 for home confirmation. Our five-collection example for a new AndroGel 1.62% user is a budget scenario, not a universal number of blood draws or separately charged tests. ^{3 29 38}

Can I use an HSA or FSA for testosterone gel?

Check with your plan administrator. The HRT Club says its AndroGel is HSA/FSA eligible but its membership fee is not. Male Excel and Hone say they accept HSA/FSA payments; that does not make every charge eligible under every plan. ^{8 9 27 29}

Is compounded testosterone cream the same as gel?

No. Compounded creams are mixed by a pharmacy and are not FDA-approved. The FDA doesn't review them for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they're sold. A compounded cream isn't a generic version of an FDA-approved gel. ²⁶

Is testosterone gel cheaper than injections?

A lower-priced cypionate vial does not by itself prove a lower monthly bill. Compare pharmacist-confirmed usable supply, discard limits, injection supplies, visits, and labs with the complete gel cost. Gel avoids needles but adds a daily routine and transfer risk. Switching formats is a decision for your clinician. ^{2 3 32}

Can I buy testosterone gel over the counter?

No. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance and requires a prescription. "Testosterone boosters" sold as supplements are not prescription testosterone gel. ^{3 21}

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What's the bottom line on testosterone gel cost?

If you have a prescriber, generic 1.62% gel has published references of about $43–$77 per 30 days at the label's starting dose, and the pump references here cost far less than packets. If your comparable generic total exceeds about $57.62 per bottle, brand AndroGel through The HRT Club costs less in our 13-single-bottle annual-membership model, before clinical costs and applicable taxes. If you don't have a prescriber, compare what each program charges for the clinician and labs, and whether it sells gel at all. ^{1 2 8 9}

• Have a prescriber? Price the pump at two or three pharmacies. Ask about packets vs. pump. Check the $57.62 crossover.
• Insurance first? Check your formulary, prior authorization, and deductible. Then have the pharmacist run cash and insurance side by side.
• No prescriber yet? Decide whether you want an FDA-approved gel, then compare a suitable local clinician with any written online gel quote. Male Excel and Hone’s published cream programs are different products, with separate membership and medication charges.

Still not sure which TRT care route fits you? Use our free Find My TRT Path tool.

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Educational information only. This page is not medical advice and has not been clinically reviewed. Testosterone is a prescription-only Schedule III controlled substance in the United States. Don't start, stop, or change testosterone without a licensed clinician. Call 911 for chest pain or sudden shortness of breath. New leg pain or swelling needs prompt medical assessment. ^{3 21}

Last verified: September 2026. Public prices and policies were checked September 17, 2026; historical manufacturer prices and reader reports are dated separately. A live quote and the label that comes with your prescription may differ from these public listings.

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Which sources support this guide?

Prices and company policies below were checked on September 17, 2026; older label versions and historical reports retain their own dates. Product labels and official rules support medical and legal statements, while company pages support only the claims those companies publish.

1. GoodRx — Testosterone prices and package table. Package-price references checked September 17, 2026. The local pharmacy-price module did not return usable branch-specific quotes.

2. Drugs.com — Testosterone price guide and AndroGel price guide. Checked September 17, 2026. Published discount references, not confirmed personal fills.

3. DailyMed — AndroGel 1.62% prescribing information and Medication Guide. ASCEND Therapeutics US; revised October 2025. Sections 1–3, 5, 8.3, 16, and the patient instructions. Checked September 17, 2026.

4. DailyMed — AndroGel 1% prescribing information. ASCEND Therapeutics US; revised October 2025. Sections 2, 5, and 16. Checked September 17, 2026.

5. FDA — Testim prescribing information. NDA 021454, label posted with the July 11, 2025 supplement. Sections 2 and 16; checked September 17, 2026.

6. FDA — Fortesta prescribing information and Drugs@FDA product record, NDA 021463. Label posted with the July 11, 2025 supplement; sections 2 and 16. The brand is listed as discontinued, with a determination that discontinuation was not for safety or effectiveness reasons. Checked September 17, 2026.

7. DailyMed — Vogelxo prescribing information. Label revised April 2020, sections 2 and 16, used here for the product-specific dose steps and package contents. Checked September 17, 2026.

8. The HRT Club — AndroGel 1.62% product page. Provider-stated $40 price, retail comparison, payment statements, and corporate footer; checked September 17, 2026.

9. The HRT Club — FAQs. Membership inclusions and exclusions, shipping, HSA/FSA statements, testosterone auto-refill restriction, and multi-pack exclusion; checked September 17, 2026.

10. The HRT Club — Testosterone product listings. Provider-stated authorized-generic 1% prices, new-prescription policy, and partner pharmacy; checked September 17, 2026.

11. AndroGel.com — Get AndroGel 1.62%. The channel prices are labeled “observed on 09/04/2024,” not current 2026 quotes. Copay-card terms and manufacturer contact were visible; current card availability and value were not confirmed. Page checked September 17, 2026.

12. FDA Drugs@FDA — Xiromed testosterone gel 1.62%, ANDA 210835. Generic-approval/product record checked September 17, 2026.

13. GoodRx — AndroGel prices. The page’s coverage percentage and copay figures are quoted only as GoodRx’s claims, not estimates of the reader’s coverage. Checked September 17, 2026.

14. GoodRx — Using GoodRx to lower Medicare drug costs. Coupon-versus-insurance and deductible/out-of-pocket treatment; checked September 17, 2026.

15. Medicare.gov — Costs for Medicare drug coverage. 2026 maximum deductible, standard-benefit coinsurance, and covered-drug out-of-pocket threshold; checked September 17, 2026.

16. Cigna — 2026 Individual & Family Plan prescription drug-list changes. Florida Plus drug-list section, effective January 1, 2026; checked September 17, 2026.

17. Mass General Brigham Health Plan — Testosterone products step therapy. Commercial/Exchange policy effective July 1, 2026; first-line/second-line table and coverage/continuation criteria. Checked September 17, 2026.

18. UnitedHealthcare — Testosterone prior authorization/medical necessity. Commercial policy effective February 1, 2026; checked September 17, 2026. The example in the article is one pathway, not the entire policy or a diagnostic rule.

19. THP Medicare / CVS Caremark — 2026 testosterone topical prior-authorization form. Product list and diagnostic documentation questions; checked September 17, 2026.

20. 21 CFR 1306.22 — Refilling of prescriptions, official annual CFR text. 2025 codified edition, subsection (a): six-month and five-refill limits for Schedule III/IV prescriptions. Read September 17, 2026; these limits are not a universal visit-billing schedule.

21. DEA — Drug scheduling. Testosterone listed as Schedule III; checked September 17, 2026.

22. DEA — Extension of telemedicine flexibilities. December 31, 2025 announcement of the extension through December 31, 2026; checked September 17, 2026.

23. Federal Register — Fourth temporary extension of COVID-19 telemedicine flexibilities for prescription of controlled medications. Published December 31, 2025; extension through December 31, 2026. Read with DEA’s explanation and applicable state rules.

24. HHS — Requested updates to testosterone therapy product labels. June 18, 2026 announcement. A requested label change is distinct from a revised product label or coverage policy; checked September 17, 2026.

25. Endocrine Society — Testosterone therapy for hypogonadism guideline resources. Diagnostic requirements, repeat morning fasting testing, fertility plans, and higher-risk situations; checked September 17, 2026.

26. FDA — Understanding the risks of compounded drugs and AUA/ASRM — Diagnosis and treatment of infertility in men, Part II. Used for separate compounding and fertility claims, respectively; checked September 17, 2026.

27. Male Excel — Hormone treatment costs. Provider-stated consultation, membership, cream and injection starting rates, 60-day medication supply, separate billing, thyroid bundle, shipping exclusion, and the company-published “Dan” testimonial. Checked September 17, 2026.

28. Male Excel — FAQ. Provider-stated initial kit inclusion, treatment-state exclusions, named pharmacies, and follow-up/refill information. Checked September 17, 2026; licenses and service delivery were not independently checked.

29. Hone Health official help pages: Plus membership, membership overview, using your own pharmacy, insurance policy, and state availability. Provider-stated pricing, inclusions, formulations, and access; checked September 17, 2026.

30. Rex MD — Testosterone program and testosterone gel medication information. Provider-stated general program price, labs, visits, shipping, and named 1.62% gel; checked September 17, 2026. No gel-specific quote was obtained.

31. Taurus Meds — $49 testosterone offer and terms of service. Provider-stated offer, conflicting gel/injection description, and the $17.99-per-billing-period provision; checked September 17, 2026.

32. GoodRx — Testosterone cypionate package prices. Checked September 17, 2026; 10 mL vials of 100 mg/mL and 200 mg/mL. Package prices are not monthly treatment costs.

33. Mayo Clinic Connect — “Testosterone gel — insurance won’t pay”. April 2024 posts by “fortunateoldman” and “vincescs”; read September 17, 2026. Historical customer-experience signals only, not current price, coverage, or medical evidence.

34. SingleCare — How much does testosterone cost without insurance?. Page displayed an update date of November 12, 2025. Its “Cost of testosterone gel and cream” section supplies the bottle-versus-month example discussed here; checked September 17, 2026. Not used as medical authority.

35. GoodRx — Companion. Advertised starting monthly-equivalent rate with yearly payment; checked September 17, 2026. Not a confirmation that a particular testosterone offer is available to the reader.

36. The HRT Club — Terms of service. Automatic renewal, cancellation timing, and nonrefundable fees/purchases; checked September 17, 2026.

37. Male Excel — Terms and conditions. Contracted-pharmacy requirement, payment/refund terms, packaging disclosure, and desiccated-thyroid disclosure; checked September 17, 2026.

38. Hone Health — Men’s Plus HRT lab testing schedule. The lab-based confirmation price differs from the Plus membership page. Testing schedule and prices checked September 17, 2026.

39. FDA — Actions to address unapproved thyroid medications. Animal-derived thyroid approval status, compounding restriction, and risk-based enforcement approach; checked September 17, 2026.

40. Rex MD — Terms and conditions. Prescription-product return/refund restriction; checked September 17, 2026.

41. Hone Health — Order cancellation and refund policy. Updated August 31, 2026; independent membership/medication billing, cancellation, and refund conditions. Checked September 17, 2026.

42. Taurus Meds — Subscription cancellation and refund policy. Updated February 28, 2026; 72-hour notice and differing medical-disqualification refund wording. Checked September 17, 2026.

43. FDA — Generic drug facts. Generic-approval standards; checked September 17, 2026.

44. DEA Diversion Control Division — Prescriptions Q&A. Legitimate medical purpose, pharmacist responsibility, state-law limits, and the distinction between prescribing rules and a fixed visit schedule. Checked September 17, 2026.