Hims is a telehealth platform that connects you with licensed medical providers online, then ships prescribed medications directly to your door. The entire process, from filling out a health questionnaire to receiving treatment, happens without an in-person doctor visit. The platform covers erectile dysfunction, hair loss, mental health, weight loss, and several other categories, operating on a subscription model that doesn’t accept insurance.
The Consultation Process
Everything starts with an online intake form. You’ll answer questions about your symptoms, medical history, and what you’re looking for. A licensed provider then reviews your responses and decides whether a prescription is appropriate for your situation.
In most states, this consultation happens asynchronously. That means you won’t speak to anyone in real time. Instead, your provider sends treatment recommendations through a secure messaging portal in your account. Some states require a video visit by law, and if yours is one of them, you’ll be prompted to schedule one after submitting the intake form. Either way, you can message your provider with follow-up questions through the platform.
The providers on the platform include physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. As of the end of 2023, 658 medical providers across all 50 states were offering consultations through Hims. They’re employed or contracted through affiliated medical groups owned by licensed physicians, and their credentials and licenses are verified against federal and state databases. Providers must pass written clinical testing reviewed by a physician advisory board before they’re approved to see patients on the platform.
What Hims Treats
The platform’s biggest categories are erectile dysfunction, hair loss, mental health, and weight loss. Each follows the same basic flow (intake form, provider review, prescription if appropriate, home delivery) but with different medications and monitoring.
For erectile dysfunction, the main medications are sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) and tadalafil (the active ingredient in Cialis). Sildenafil is available in doses ranging from 20mg to 100mg, with most people starting at 50mg. Beyond standard tablets, Hims offers chewable versions and a product called Hard Mints that combines blood-flow ingredients with B12. Your provider sets the dose based on your symptoms and how you respond.
Hair loss treatments center on finasteride and minoxidil, the two most widely studied medications for male pattern baldness. Hims offers these individually and as a combined oral tablet containing 1mg finasteride and 2.5mg minoxidil. Research on this combination approach suggests it can improve both convenience and adherence compared to taking the medications separately, with results typically evaluated over about 12 months.
The mental health service covers depression and anxiety disorders specifically. It does not treat conditions like PTSD, bipolar disorder, OCD, or eating disorders. Controlled substances such as Xanax and Adderall are not available through the platform. Plans start at $49 per month and include the provider evaluation, unlimited medication adjustments, and ongoing follow-ups. Over 75% of Hims mental health customers who checked in with their provider reported symptom improvement, based on self-reported data collected between late 2021 and mid-2022.
How the Weight Loss Program Works
The weight loss offering has gone through significant changes. Hims initially built much of this program around compounded semaglutide, a pharmacy-mixed version of the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. The FDA has pushed back on this practice, announcing its intent to restrict compounded GLP-1 drugs marketed by Hims and other companies because the agency cannot verify their quality, safety, or efficacy the same way it can for FDA-approved products.
In response, Hims shifted its approach. The company signed an agreement with Novo Nordisk to offer FDA-approved Ozempic injections (in 0.5mg, 1mg, and 2mg doses) and Wegovy in both injection and tablet forms. Compounded semaglutide will still be available on a limited basis for patients whose clinical needs can’t be met by the FDA-approved options, but only if a provider determines it’s medically necessary. Weight loss medication plans start at $349.
Pricing and Insurance
The initial consultation is free. After that, you pay a subscription fee that varies depending on the treatment category and plan length. Hims does not accept health insurance, so you’ll pay out of pocket. You can, however, use a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) to get reimbursed. The cost of ongoing provider access through the app is bundled into your medication subscription, so there are no separate visit fees after the initial evaluation.
Shipping and Delivery
Once your provider finalizes a prescription, Hims ships it to you. There’s a flat $5 shipping fee, and packages go out through DHL SmartMail, FedEx SmartPost, or USPS depending on the product. DHL and FedEx deliveries are handed off to USPS for the final leg to your address. Most products can ship to a P.O. box, with one exception: GLP-1 weight loss medications require a physical address due to temperature restrictions during transit. Expedited or overnight shipping is not currently available, and delivery times vary by location and carrier.
FDA-Approved vs. Compounded Medications
This distinction matters and is worth understanding before you sign up. Most of what Hims prescribes, like sildenafil, tadalafil, and finasteride, are FDA-approved generic medications. They’ve gone through the full regulatory process, and their safety and effectiveness are well established.
Compounded medications are different. These are mixed by specialty pharmacies to create custom formulations, like combining two drugs into one tablet or adjusting a dose that isn’t commercially available. Compounded drugs are legal, but they haven’t gone through FDA approval as finished products. The FDA has been particularly vocal about compounded GLP-1 weight loss drugs, warning that companies cannot claim these products are generic versions of or equivalent to FDA-approved medications. If your provider recommends a compounded product, it’s worth asking what the specific ingredients are and why an FDA-approved alternative isn’t being used instead.