Want to Make Your Healthcare Costs Plummet? Costco Can Help

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From eyeglasses to hearing aids to wheelchairs, Costco can reduce your healthcare costs. How many ways can Costco save you money on healthcare? [[{“value”:”

Costco can help people save money on a wide range of purchases, from hot dogs and rotisserie chickens, to gasoline, to big-ticket items like TVs, furniture, vacations, and cars. But did you know that Costco can help you make the most of another troublesome budget item — healthcare?

That’s right: Costco offers big savings on prescription drugs, wellness products, home healthcare supplies, and much more. We talked with Chris Pierce, Assistant Vice President of Pharmacy at Costco, and Head of Costco Health Solutions, to get some exclusive advice and insights on how Costco can help reduce your out-of-pocket healthcare spending.

Here are a few surprising ways that Costco can save you money on healthcare.

1. Low-cost healthcare appointments online with Sesame

Costco has a partnership with Sesame, a company that provides telehealth (online healthcare). With Sesame, you can meet with doctors and other healthcare professionals who can help you with online appointments for primary care and some specialties like dermatology, pediatrics, cardiology, and even dentistry. Costco members get special pricing: $29 per virtual primary care visit.

“This is exclusive pricing for Costco members for this easy-to-use telemedicine service from a trusted business partner,” Pierce said.

If you have a high-deductible health plan and health savings account (HSA) and pay for most of your healthcare costs out of pocket, you might find that Costco’s partnership with Sesame can help you save hundreds of dollars compared to traditional doctor visits. And you can get same-day doctor appointments with no wait times — saving you time and getting you the care you need, faster.

2. Costco weight loss program by Sesame (access to GLP-1 medications)

Do you want to lose weight? Have you struggled to make progress with diet and exercise changes alone? If you’re curious about the new generation of life-changing, blockbuster GLP-1 weight loss drugs (like Ozempic and Wegovy), Costco’s partnership with Sesame has another special benefit for members: You can sign up for a specially discounted weight loss program.

Sesame is offering exclusive Costco member pricing of $179 for a three-month subscription to the Sesame weight loss program. “Members can be prescribed GLP-1 therapies with monitoring and support from a Sesame physician,” Pierce said.

Keep in mind that the cost of GLP-1 drugs or other medications is not included in this $179 price. There are currently no generic alternatives for these highly in-demand drugs, and without insurance, the price typically ranges from $950-$1,600 per month. The exact pricing of any weight loss prescription drugs will depend upon insurance coverage and other factors.

3. FSA-eligible healthcare products at Costco online

The Costco website makes it easy to search for a wide range of health and wellness products. You can use the “FSA Eligible” filter to find products that can be purchased with pre-tax flexible spending account (FSA) dollars, in case your employer offers that benefit.

“The deals webpage for Costco healthcare features significant savings on a number of popular non-prescription products,” Pierce said.

Here are a few examples of Costco deals on home healthcare products and devices:

Mobility Plus wheelchair by Medline ($189.99)Home Guardian 2.0 Medical Alert System ($99.99)KardiaMobile Personal EKG ($79.99)A&D Talking Blood Pressure Monitor ($54.99)Flonase Nasal Spray – 432 metered sprays ($52.99)

Prices are as of May 22, 2024 and may vary by location.

4. Use Costco to buy glasses and hearing aids

If you need eyeglasses or contact lenses, or if you’re experiencing hearing loss, Costco can help you save money on eye doctor visits and hearing aids. “Costco Optical and Hearing Aid centers offer strong member value and are routinely recognized for high levels of service,” Pierce said.

Costco offers premium rechargeable hearing aids starting at $1,499. The Costco Optical department accepts most major vision insurance plans for eyeglasses. “Costco Optical offers Kirkland Signature High Definition lenses at no additional cost,” Pierce said.

5. Go “behind the counter” for OTC medication savings

Not every “over the counter” medication or home healthcare product is out there on the store shelves. Some items are kept “behind the counter” at the pharmacy.

“Here’s an insider tip,” Pierce said. “Stop by the Costco Pharmacy department. There are tremendous savings on OTC items ‘behind the pharmacy counter’ like skin creams, antifungals, diabetic supplies, and other popular items. Products can vary by pharmacy, but it’s a good idea for members to stop by to do a mini-treasure hunt.”

If you’re looking for certain healthcare products, can’t find something on the shelf, or just want to see what special deals might be available at your warehouse, ask your local Costco pharmacist. They might have great deals waiting for you behind the counter.

Bottom line

Costco can help people save money on a wide range of healthcare needs, from weight loss to home health monitoring devices to skin creams. Along with the hundreds of dollars of savings that you can get with generic drugs at the Costco Pharmacy, Costco can help you stay outfitted with eyeglasses, hearing aids, and many non-prescription items.

Especially if you’re paying for more of your healthcare costs out of your own bank account, it’s important to make your dollars go further. Costco can help you get the best value for money and enjoy better personal and financial wellness.

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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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