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I remember one unusually bad flu season, during which my family and I were knocked out for about a month, taking turns lying on the couch. If I had a Costco membership and had taken a little more initiative, we might have avoided the situation by getting vaccinated at a Costco Pharmacy.
I recently spent some time looking through all of the membership benefits of the discount club's pharmacy and was surprised by what I found. Here are some Costco Pharmacy perks you may have missed, as well.
1. Online prescription refills
It can be time-consuming to schedule a doctor's appointment, sit in the waiting room, and travel back and forth to the appointment. This is especially true if all you need is a prescription to be refilled.
That's why Costco's partnership with the telehealth company Sesame is so beneficial. Costco members can book a virtual appointment with a medical professional for prescription refills, and it costs just $29.
2. Costco has upfront drug pricing
One of the worst things about the American medical system is that you often don't know how much you'll have to pay for services and prescriptions. Costco eliminates some of this annoyance by listing medication prices online, making it far easier to stay within your budget.
Plus, Costco members receive a substantial discount on many of their medications. The Costco Member Prescription Program (CMPP) is free to all members and gives you a discount of up to 80% or more on prescriptions. It can even be used at participating network pharmacies, and no insurance, coupons, or extra prescription card is required.
3. A long list of vaccination options
No matter what vaccination you need, you can probably get it through the Costco Pharmacy. The company offers over a dozen vaccination options, including COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A and B, pneumococcal, meningitis, shingles, tetanus, and many more.
You'll also receive upfront pricing for the vaccines, plus a membership discount on many of them. Some of them can be very inexpensive, including the seasonal flu vaccine, which costs just $19.99. To make the service even more appealing, you can either book an appointment online or walk into a Costco Pharmacy.
4. Pet medications
If your furry friends have medications that need to be filled, the Costco Pharmacy can help with that, too. The pharmacy can fill pet prescriptions for allergies, arthritis, diabetes, thyroid conditions, and more, as well as flea and tick care.
Costco says pet medication discounts range from 10% to 50%, which could save you some serious cash. Not only can you save money by getting your pet's medications filled at Costco, but you'll also save time with the convenience of picking up your and your pet's medications at the same location.
5. Mail order prescriptions
Waiting in line at the pharmacy isn't exactly an enjoyable experience. Thankfully, Costco Pharmacy allows you to fill your prescriptions online and have them delivered right to your door. You can fill new prescriptions, get medication refills, check your prescription status, and transfer your prescriptions all online.
The medications can be delivered anywhere in the U.S., and members will get the same discount they'd receive in person at Costco pharmacies. Standard shipping is free, or you can pay $10.95 for three-day shipping or $13.95 for two-day delivery.
All of the above perks make Costco's annual membership fee of $65 well worth the cost. And if you choose the $130 Executive membership, you'll earn 2% back on most Costco purchases (even without using a credit card), including at the pharmacy -- which can boost your savings even further.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. 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.Chris Neiger has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
