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Costco's Hidden Services Most Members Never Use (But Absolutely Should)

Costco hidden services most members never use 2026 virtual doctor car savings home remodeling identity protection Costco Next

Costco members have access to an entire ecosystem of benefits that most people never touch — from $29 virtual doctor visits to pre-arranged car pricing that can save you $4,000, insurance discounts that slash premiums by hundreds, and travel deals that include resort credits worth more than your annual fee. MOJO


The average Costco member uses approximately three to five Costco benefits regularly: the warehouse itself, gas, the pharmacy, and perhaps Costco Travel. This is a fraction of what the membership actually provides. The remaining benefits — the services that most members have paid for with their annual fee and are actively not using — represent a genuinely significant collection of financial, health, and convenience advantages that are neither prominently marketed by Costco nor intuitively visible during a warehouse visit.



Consumer experts say a surprising range of high-value benefits goes almost entirely unused simply because members don't know they exist. They can be anything from prescription discounts, tech support and travel insurance as well as extended warranties, free e-books and identity protection tools. That's a costly blind spot. Tinuiti


This guide covers every significant Costco service that most members are paying for and not using — with specific dollar savings estimates, specific access instructions, and the honest assessment of which services represent genuine value versus which are compelling on paper but limited in practice.


Hidden Service 1: $29 Virtual Doctor Visits Through Sesame


Through Costco's expanded partnership with Sesame (launched 2023, significantly expanded in 2026), members get access to: licensed physicians and therapists across all 50 states for virtual appointments. How it works: Visit Sesame's website, verify your Costco membership number, and book appointments directly through their platform. Payment happens upfront at the member-discounted rate. Real-world savings: A family needing three virtual sick visits for kids and two mental health check-ins annually saves approximately $400 to $500 versus traditional urgent care copays or out-of-pocket therapy costs. MOJO


The Sesame partnership is one of the most genuinely valuable and most genuinely overlooked Costco member benefits of 2026 — providing access to board-certified physicians and licensed therapists at prices that are dramatically below both out-of-pocket urgent care rates and insured copay rates at many plans.


The specific services available through Sesame at member pricing: primary care visits, urgent care consultations for non-emergency conditions, mental health therapy sessions, dermatology consultations, and specialist referrals across a broad range of medical categories. For members whose insurance has high copays, high deductibles, or limited mental health coverage, the Sesame partnership provides a legitimate and high-quality alternative pathway to professional healthcare at a price that makes access genuinely practical.


Access: Visit sesamecare.com, verify your Costco membership, book appointments directly. No separate enrollment fee beyond standard Costco membership.


Annual savings potential: $400 to $500 for families using the service regularly for acute care and mental health.


Hidden Service 2: The Costco Auto Program — Up to $4,000 Below Sticker Price


Costco's Auto Program offers pre-negotiated pricing on new vehicles through a network of participating dealers. Members report saving $1,000 to $4,000 compared to the standard negotiation process, and the experience eliminates the uncomfortable haggling that most people dread about car buying. MOJO


The Costco Auto Program offers member deals on new vehicles. EcomCrew


The Costco Auto Program operates through a network of pre-approved dealerships that have agreed to sell vehicles to Costco members at pre-negotiated prices — prices that are consistently below the MSRP sticker price and in most cases below what a typical consumer negotiates independently. The program covers both domestic and foreign brands across most major automotive manufacturers.


The specific commercial advantage is not just the price — it is the elimination of the dealership negotiation experience that most car buyers find uncomfortable and time-consuming. A Costco member using the Auto Program arrives at a participating dealership with a pre-agreed price, completes the transaction without negotiation, and leaves with a new vehicle typically within two to three hours rather than the full day that a typical new car purchase occupies.


How to access: Visit costco.auto to search for vehicles, receive a price certificate, and connect with a participating dealer in your area.


Annual savings potential: $1,000 to $4,000 per vehicle purchase — applied whenever a new vehicle is purchased, not annually.


Hidden Service 3: Costco Next — The Curated Online Marketplace Most Members Have Never Heard Of


Costco Next is perhaps the most commercially significant Costco benefit that the least percentage of members know about — a curated, membership-gated digital marketplace where Costco has partnered with premium brand partners to offer member-exclusive pricing on products not available in the warehouse or on Costco.com.


The Costco Next marketplace 2026 is one of the most commercially interesting and most consistently underutilized strategic opportunities in the entire Costco member ecosystem — a curated, membership-gated digital marketplace that is approaching 100 vendor sites, quietly expanding its product categories, and delivering a genuinely distinctive value proposition to the millions of Costco members who have discovered it. Most Costco members have never heard of Costco Next. Costco itself does not prominently promote the program. MOJO


The product categories available through Costco Next in 2026 include sporting equipment, apparel, premium skincare and beauty products, specialty food and beverage, home and outdoor equipment, and hundreds of other categories where the member pricing represents 15 to 30 percent or more below what the same products command through the brand's own direct channels or through general e-commerce.


How to access: Visit costco.com/next while signed in with your Costco membership account. Browse by category or brand.


Annual savings potential: $50 to $300+ depending on shopping frequency and categories.


Hidden Service 4: Home Remodeling and Improvement Services


From travel and automotive programs to remodeling and cleaning services, here are some lesser-known benefits that members may be missing. Spocket


Costco's home remodeling program — operated through partnerships with licensed contractors and home improvement service providers — extends the Costco value proposition into one of the highest-cost and most difficult-to-navigate consumer service categories: home renovation and improvement.


The specific services available through Costco Home Services vary by region but typically include: window and door replacement, roofing, solar panel installation, HVAC system replacement, water heater installation, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, flooring installation, and custom closet systems. Each service is provided by pre-vetted, licensed contractors who have agreed to offer Costco members pre-negotiated pricing.


For members facing major home improvement projects, the pre-vetted contractor network and pre-negotiated pricing eliminate two of the most frustrating aspects of home improvement: finding reliable contractors and negotiating fair prices without the information advantage that experienced contractors possess.


How to access: Visit the Services section of Costco.com and select Home Improvement. Enter your zip code to see available services and schedule a consultation.


Annual savings potential: Variable by project — home improvement savings are project-specific rather than annual, but member pricing typically generates 10 to 20 percent savings versus standard contractor rates.


Hidden Service 5: Insurance Programs Across Multiple Categories


Costco's insurance partnerships represent one of the most broad and most consistently underutilized benefit categories in the entire membership — covering auto insurance, homeowner's insurance, term life insurance, pet insurance, and travel insurance, all at member-discounted rates negotiated through Costco's institutional purchasing relationships.

Insurance discounts that slash premiums by hundreds. MOJO


The specific insurance categories available through Costco membership partnerships:


Auto insurance: Costco has partnered with CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, to offer members competitive auto insurance rates. While the savings vary significantly by state, driver profile, and coverage level, members who have not compared their current auto insurance against Costco's CONNECT rate in the past twelve months are potentially leaving meaningful savings uncaptured.


Homeowner's and renter's insurance: Available through the same CONNECT partnership with member-discounted rates.


Term life insurance: Costco offers term life insurance through a partnership with Protective Life, with member pricing available for coverage amounts up to $5 million and terms up to 30 years.


Pet insurance: Available through a partnership with Figo pet insurance — a genuinely useful benefit for the millions of Costco members who own pets and are managing veterinary care costs.


Travel insurance: Available through Costco Travel for members booking travel packages, covering trip cancellation, medical emergency, and travel delay with coverage appropriate to the specific trip being insured.


How to access: Visit the Services section of Costco.com and select Insurance.


Annual savings potential: $100 to $500+ depending on insurance categories evaluated and current premium levels.


Hidden Service 6: Costco Tech Setup and Support


Costco members who purchase electronics through the warehouse can access Costco Concierge Services — a technical support program that provides two-year extended technical support on qualifying electronics purchases, accessible by phone and online.


Beyond Concierge Services, Costco partners with Geek Squad (Best Buy's technical service division) in some markets to provide setup, installation, and technical support services for televisions, home theater systems, home networking equipment, and smart home devices — at member-discounted rates.


For members who purchase major electronics at Costco and are not technically sophisticated enough to set them up independently, the Geek Squad partnership provides a convenient professional installation option at pricing that is typically below what Best Buy charges without the Costco member discount.


How to access: At the time of purchase of qualifying electronics, ask the warehouse staff about available setup and technical support options.


Annual savings potential: $50 to $200 in years when major electronics are purchased and professional setup is utilized.


Hidden Service 7: Costco Health Solutions — The Complete Healthcare Platform


Costco Member Prescription Program (CMPP) is a direct-to-members savings program administered by Costco Health Solutions, Inc. and Ventegra Inc. MOJO


Costco Health Solutions is the umbrella platform through which Costco's expanded healthcare benefit portfolio operates — and in 2026 it represents one of the most ambitious and most commercially interesting expansions of the Costco membership value proposition beyond the warehouse floor.


Beyond the pharmacy and the Sesame virtual care partnership, Costco Health Solutions in 2026 provides: blood glucose monitoring supplies and diabetic equipment at member pricing, nebulizers and respiratory therapy equipment, compound medications (custom-formulated medications not available commercially) at member pricing, and the expanding portfolio of health and wellness products accessible through the CMPP.


For members managing chronic health conditions — diabetes, respiratory conditions, thyroid disorders, cardiovascular disease — the combination of Costco pharmacy pricing and the Costco Health Solutions platform represents a healthcare cost management resource of genuine commercial significance.


How to access: Visit costco.com and navigate to the Pharmacy and Health section.


Hidden Service 8: Costco Optical — Glasses, Contacts, and Eye Exams


Costco members can get discounts on eyewear through Costco Optical, even if they don't have vision insurance. This is the case for contact lenses, prescription glasses and nonprescription glasses. Costco also accepts most major vision insurance plans. F3 Energy


The Costco optical center — operated within or adjacent to most warehouse locations — offers complete vision care services at prices that typically represent 40 to 60 percent savings compared to LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, or similar retail optical chains.

The specific savings profile of Costco Optical:


Eye exams: Performed by independent optometrists (not Costco employees) with exam fees that are typically $60 to $80 — significantly below the $120 to $200 that many private practice optometrists and optical chain exam rooms charge.


Prescription glasses: Complete pairs with standard progressive lenses are typically priced at $150 to $250 at Costco, compared to $300 to $600 at retail optical chains for comparable lens technology.


Contact lenses: Contact lens pricing at Costco consistently undercuts 1-800-Contacts, the brand's own website, and most optical retailers — typically by 20 to 35 percent for major brands.


How to access: Walk into any Costco warehouse and look for the optical center — typically located near the pharmacy. Eye exam appointments can be scheduled directly with the independent optometrist on site.


Annual savings potential: $100 to $400+ per person with vision correction needs.


Hidden Service 9: The Four New Member Benefits Launching in 2026


In 2026, Costco plans to introduce four new benefits for its cardholders. Following the introduction of a controversial benefit that favored its Executive cardholders in 2025, Costco is introducing four new perks geared toward a majority of its members in the new year. Orders In Seconds


Costco's ongoing benefits expansion — specifically the four new member perks introduced in 2026 — represents the continuing evolution of the membership value proposition beyond the warehouse floor. While the specific details of all four new benefits have not been fully disclosed in the available public record, the pattern of Costco's benefit expansion in recent years — adding the Sesame virtual care partnership, expanding the CMPP health solutions platform, launching the Instacart monthly credit — suggests that the 2026 additions will follow a consistent theme: extending the Costco value proposition into the everyday financial and healthcare decisions that members make outside the warehouse.


Members who want first access to new Costco benefit announcements: follow Costco's investor relations communications (quarterly earnings calls frequently preview benefit developments before they are announced to members), subscribe to Costco's email communications through the membership portal, and follow dedicated Costco member information accounts on social media.


Hidden Service 10: Identity Protection and Financial Services


Costco's partnership network extends into financial services categories that most members have never investigated — including identity protection services, credit monitoring, and financial planning resources available at member-discounted rates.


Consumer experts say a surprising range of high-value benefits goes almost entirely unused simply because members don't know they exist. They include identity protection tools. Tinuiti


For members who are not currently paying for identity protection services through a bank or existing membership, Costco's partnership-rate identity protection offering may represent the most cost-effective access to a service that has become increasingly commercially important in the 2026 digital security environment.


How to access all Costco services in one place: The most efficient way to discover the full depth of Costco's service ecosystem is to log into your Costco.com account and navigate to the "Services" section — which surfaces the complete catalog of member-available services organized by category. Most members who have never visited this section of the website discover multiple services they did not know existed and that apply directly to their household's specific financial and lifestyle profile.


At MOJO Sales & Branding, we understand the complete Costco ecosystem — from the services that make membership valuable for consumers to the roadshow brands that make the warehouse floor a discovery destination.


Contact us at 732.433.7873 or Susan@MOJOSalesandBranding.com.



 
 
 

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