MedStands pays a recurring fixed marketing fee of $36 to $260 per active referred customer per month, set by the medication category, and it keeps paying every month that customer stays active. PlushCare's affiliate program is publicly listed on the Katalys Affiliate Network at a one-time $60 CPA, paid once when a new patient converts. That is the core difference: one program pays you again and again for the same referral, the other pays you once.
Both let you refer people to GLP-1 and telehealth care, but the earning structures are built differently. Below is a fact-based comparison so you can decide which model fits how you want to earn.
At a glance
| MedStands | PlushCare | |
|---|---|---|
| Payment model | Recurring fixed marketing fee, set by medication category | One-time CPA (publicly listed) |
| When you are paid | Every month a referral stays active | Once, at signup/conversion |
| How much per referral | $36 to $260 per active customer per month, by category | Listed at $60 CPA default on the Katalys network; aggregators list a broader $60 to $100 range (third-party, unverified) |
| How long a referral counts | Tied to you for life (bound to the account at signup) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Cost to join | $0, no setup or monthly fee | Not publicly disclosed |
| Sign-up requirements | Self-serve, live the same day, no follower minimum | Apply through the Katalys Affiliate Network |
| Referral cap | No cap on referrals or earnings | Not publicly disclosed |
| Who handles the clinical side | Licensed providers prescribe, licensed pharmacies fulfill | Virtual primary/urgent care providers |
A note on the PlushCare figures: only the $60 CPA default and the Katalys network listing are network-sourced, and the listing itself notes that rates may change ("VIP Rates available on a case-by-case basis for quality traffic partners," with a payout action of "CC Submit, Prescription Purchase"). Treat the $60 to $100 range as third-party and unverified. Where a term is not published, we say so rather than guess.
The math: recurring monthly vs one-time
The clearest way to see the structural gap is to follow a single referred customer across a year.
Under a one-time CPA, you are paid once. Using PlushCare's network-listed $60 default, a referral who signs up and stays a paying patient for twelve months still earns you that one $60 payment. The customer's ongoing value stays with the platform, not with you.
Under the MedStands model, the same active customer is paid on every month. The fee is a flat per-category dollar amount between $36 and $260, so a referral in a given medication category pays that same amount each month they remain active. Over a year, that is up to twelve payments for one referral instead of one, for as long as they keep using the platform.
Two honest points matter here. First, this is a per-customer monthly fee schedule, not a promise of a total. Your actual earnings depend on which medication category a referral falls into and on how many referred people qualify and stay active. Not everyone qualifies, and some will not stay. Second, the MedStands fee is a fixed marketing fee by medication category. It is not a commission, a percentage, or a share of sales. You are paid a set dollar amount per active customer per month, which is easy to forecast once you know the category.
If you want a deeper look at how a recurring referral fee differs from a sales commission, see Is a Telehealth Referral Fee a Commission?.
Attribution: bound for life vs an undisclosed window
Most affiliate programs run on a cookie window: refer someone, and you are credited only if they convert before the cookie expires. PlushCare's cookie duration is not publicly disclosed, so we will not state a number for it.
MedStands does not use an expiring cookie for attribution. When someone signs up through your QR code or personal link, they are bound to you on their account at signup. That referral is tied to you for life, which is what makes the recurring monthly fee possible: because the customer is permanently attributed to you, you keep earning the monthly fee for as long as they stay active. For more on how this works, see How Telehealth Referral Attribution Works (Lifetime Tracking).
Cost, requirements, and referral limits
MedStands is free to join. There is no setup fee, no monthly fee, and nothing to buy. You get paid, you never pay. Sign-up is self-serve, your QR code and personal link are ready the same day you sign up, and an admin reviews the account. There is no follower or audience-size minimum, so you do not need a large platform to start.
There is no cap on referrals or earnings. On MedStands you can both sell directly on your own link and refer other businesses into the program, and a referred business still earns its own fee in full. Nobody earns less because you referred them. PlushCare's cost to join, requirements, and referral cap are not publicly disclosed on the network listing, so we do not state them.
Who does the clinical work
With MedStands, you do no clinical work and hold no inventory. MedStands is not a medical practice and does not prescribe. Licensed providers do the prescribing, and licensed pharmacies handle fulfillment, refills, and shipping on a LegitScript-certified platform. Every request is reviewed by a licensed provider, and not everyone qualifies. Your role is referral and attribution, nothing more. PlushCare operates as a virtual primary and urgent care service, with its own providers delivering care to patients you refer.
Where PlushCare might be a fit
If your audience is looking for general virtual primary or urgent care, and not only GLP-1 weight-loss treatment, PlushCare covers a broader clinical scope, including its own $19.99/mo membership offering. And if you prefer a simple one-and-done payout structure through an established network like Katalys, a flat CPA is straightforward to understand: you refer, the patient converts, you are paid once. For publishers who send high volumes of new-patient traffic and do not want to track ongoing relationships, that model can be a clean fit.
Common questions
Is the MedStands fee a commission or a percentage of sales?
No. It is a fixed marketing fee set by the medication category, a flat dollar amount between $36 and $260 per active customer per month. It is not a commission, a percentage, or a share of revenue.
How is MedStands paid out?
Monthly, to your bank via Stripe Connect. There is a US$25 minimum payout, and a balance below that rolls over to the next month.
Can I earn from both my own referrals and from referring businesses?
Yes. Affiliates can sell directly on their own link and refer businesses into the program. A referred business still earns its own fee in full, so referring others does not reduce what anyone earns.
Do I need a large following to join MedStands?
No. There is no follower or audience-size minimum. Sign-up is self-serve, and your QR code and personal link are live the same day you sign up, subject to an admin review.
Ready to earn recurring income?
If you would rather be paid every month a referral stays active than once at signup, join the MedStands affiliate program and get your QR code and personal link the same day. Not sure whether the partner or affiliate track fits you? Read Partner vs Affiliate: Which MedStands Program Fits You?.
Competitor program terms are as of July 2026 and come from each brand's published affiliate information. Programs change, so check their current terms.