Costco is known as the place to buy bulk consumable goods and food at discounted prices. Most people who are aware of the wholesaler do not realize that they also stock electronics, homewares, and a whole host of other branded products.
In fact, Costco can be a great place to pick up these other items for a much better price than they are available for elsewhere. In recent years, the store has expanded its health and medical range to include a wide selection of healthcare essentials.
Why Choose Costco for Healthcare?
Looking after your health can be expensive. Depending on where you shop, it is often cheaper to feed a family of four on fast food than it is to buy the ingredients for a health-promoting, home-cooked meal. Shopping at Costco and similar retailers can dramatically reduce the cost of healthy eating, as it allows you to buy bulk food items and branded food products at a discount.
For people who are already shouldering the cost of ill health, every penny counts. When you factor in medications, complimentary therapies, hospital care, and the other tools required to safely manage chronic disease, being sick is not cheap. Shopping at Costco can, in some cases, save you money on these essential items.
Medical Alert Systems at Costco
Medical alert systems, also known as medical alarms, are wearable devices that are designed to help manage illness and health complications that older adults may experience. Many medical alert systems can be programmed to remind the wearer to take medication on time. Plus, practically every device on the market has some form of emergency alert feature, which will inform relatives or the appropriate medical professionals if the wearer has a fall. Essentially, these devices are built to provide peace of mind.
Costco currently sell two medical alert devices, with an additional discount for active price club members:
- Freedom Guardian: This is a medical alert watch made by Medical Guardian. Its features include fall detection, location tracking, text-to-speech messaging, read aloud messaging, and medication reminders.
- Active Guardian: Also made by Medical Guardian, this device is a wearable pendant. It features two-way communication, location tracking, and fall detection.
Home Health Monitors at Costco
Costco stocks a decent range of home medical monitors. These devices can be useful for people managing ongoing illness or anybody who simply wants to ensure they remain in good health.
Here are some of the best monitors that the store has on offer:
- A&D Basic Blood Pressure Monitor: This monitor features an adjustable cuff which fits most arms. It also has multi-user capabilities.
- Beurer Blood Pressure Monitors: These slightly more advanced models come with irregular heartbeat detection. Costco sell two models, one with a wrist cuff and another with an arm cuff.
- HoMedics Premium Pulse Oximeter: A non-invasive device that measures blood oxygen levels.
Other Medical Products at Costco
Many Costco stores also sell generic medical essentials, such as first aid kits. American Red Cross first aid kits come with everything you may need for minor injuries and ailments, including aspirin, antacid, a range of bandages, alcohol wipes, and burn treatments.
Costco Healthcare and Illness Prevention
When it comes to illnesses, prevention is key. If you want to keep yourself in good shape and save money on healthcare essentials, shopping at Costco can help.
Here are some of the best products you can find in store and online:
- Vitamins and Dietary Supplements: Most stores stock a range of multi-vitamin supplements, herbal remedies, fish oils, joint health supplements, and weight management products.
- Light Therapy Lamps: These lamps combat Seasonal Affective Disorder by mimicking sunlight, without emitting harmful UV rays. They may improve energy, mood, and quality of sleep.
- Exercise and Fitness: Costco sells a wide variety of sports and fitness equipment, from yoga mats to treadmills. Larger items are only available via their online store.
Healthy Eating with Costco
Maintaining a healthy diet is arguably the smartest way to stave off illness and look after your body. Unfortunately, purchasing health foods and organic items in regular supermarkets is a costly endeavor.
Doing your health food shop at Costco can shave quite a bit off the bill without sacrificing quality. Costco’s bulk food items are often a fraction of the price they would be elsewhere.
Some of the best healthy food purchases available at Costco are:
- Bulk frozen vegetables, such as broccoli and kale
- Bulk frozen fruit for smoothies
- Bulk grains and pulses, such as quinoa and brown rice
- Cauliflower rice
- Wild Alaskan salmon
- Almond butter
Find Your Local Store
As of November 2021, Costco has 568 warehouses in the United States, so your local store is unlikely to be far away. Visit the Costco warehouse directory on their website to find the nearest store in your state.
