Costco has partnered with Sesame, a healthcare marketplace startup that aims to primarily serve uninsured people as well as those with high-deductible insurance and health savings account plans.
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Costco members will soon be able to receive low-cost health care through a partnership with Sesame.The move into primary care follows similar investments by Walmart, Amazon, CVS, and Walgreens.In addition to $29 virtual visits, Costco members will receive discounts on other services.
The perks of club Costco go beyond the walls of a warehouse, and soon, members will have access to one more: bargain prices on medical care.
Through a new partnership with Sesame, a healthcare marketplace startup backed by Google, Costco members can receive virtual doctor’s visits for $29, plus discounts on other telehealth and in-person services, Sesame said Monday.
“When it comes to health care, Sesame also delivers high quality and great value – and a low price that will be appreciated by Costco Members when it comes to their own care,” co-founder and CEO David Goldhill said in a statement.
The move into primary care follows similar investments by retailers Walmart and Amazon, as well as from pharmacies CVS and Walgreens.
Although Costco currently offers pharmacy and other health-related services that help attract customers to its warehouses, Goldhill told Bloomberg neither company currently has plans to open primary care clinics in-store.
Bloomberg also reported the companies declined to reveal financial terms but said the agreement is expected to benefit both. Costco has nearly 125 million membership cardholders.
Sesame was founded in 2018 and now connects patients with thousands of outpatient healthcare providers in all 50 states. The company aims to primarily serve uninsured people as well as those with high-deductible insurance and health savings account plans.
In addition to $29 virtual visits, Costco members will be able to receive virtual mental health sessions for $79, health checkups for $72, and a 10% discount on other services.
Sesame says their offering allows patients to develop long-term relationships with a provider, including in-person visits where available.