The Platinum program includes the same
Healthy choice networks and services as the Gold program
with the additions of medical and hospital
and long-term care networks. The Platinum
program costs $22.95 a month for Executive
Members and $27.95 a month for Gold Star
Medical Savings Card fills the gaps or Business Members. There is a $10 enrollment fee for both programs; however, the fee
is waived for Executive Members.
Before her husband’s retirement, Simpson is exactly the kind of person for The monthly fee covers all family mem-Karleen Simpson relied on his whom the Medical Savings Card is designed. bers including spouse, children under the age
insurance to help her pay for dental JoDee Seneker, director in Costco’s of 25, seniors age 60 or older and any other
work. But once he retired, she Member Services, says there are three dependents, as defined by the IRS.
began pricing different options for dental groups of people who will get the most use The program is available in most areas
coverage. That’s when Simpson, a member from the cards. Those who are members, where there are Costco warehouses. Excep-from Oregon City, Oregon, discovered like Simpson, who have medical insurance tions include Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Montana
Costco’s Medical Savings Card provided by but no coverage for non-medical services such and Vermont.
AgelessCare. as dental care; those who are uninsured; and For more information about the Medical
After signing up for the program, Simpson those with pre-existing conditions that are Savings Card, including the full range of
selected one of the dentists from the network excluded from their current policy. benefits, visit costco.com, click on “Services,”
of health-care providers. After signing up for the program, mem- then click on “Medical Savings Card,” or call
Simpson says she’s really happy with bers receive an introduction kit with ID cards 1-800-869-5494. IC
the quality of the dentist she found—and and a provider directory based on their
calculates that she’s saved more than $100 ZIP code. The directory includes a list of the
on her last three visits. “I like the fact that [the most frequently used health-care providers
program] saves you up to 60 percent on vari- in that area who participate in AgelessCare’s
ous procedures,” she says. contracted national networks. Members
The Medical Savings Card is not an can also find participating medical specialists
insurance program. Rather, it is a way for and all non-medical providers online and
Costco members to receive substantial can access participating providers nation-savings on health-care services at more wide to use while traveling or if living
than 400,000 participating network pro- elsewhereparttime.
viders nationwide. (All networks are com- The program offers two options. The first
posed of independent contracting health-care is the Gold program, which includes networks
providers.) There are no claims and no paper- and services such as dental care, chiropractic
work to fill out. Members pay for their ser- and alternative medicine and a 24-hour nurse
vices, a pre-negotiated price, at the time of hotline. It costs $10.95 a month for
their visit. Executive Members and $12.95 a month for
Sample Savings
Typical Market Price Typical Network Typical %
Without Card Rate With Card Savings
Medical Savings
Office Visit – New Patient $165 $114 31%
Office Visit – Established Patient $65 $43 34%
Mammogram $162 $95 41%
MRI $1,048 $626 40%
Obstetrics Care/Delivery – Physician Fees $3,000 $1,800 40%
Hospital Two-day Stay†† $14,034 $9,824 30%
Dental Savings
Comprehensive Oral Exam
Teeth Cleaning
Crown – Porcelain
Root Canal – Molar
$76
$81
$896
$1,079
$40 48%
$45 44%
$545 39%
$566 48%
Sample savings only. Actual savings will depend upon where the member lives, the individual network
provider, the nature of the visit and the actual services provided.
††Preauthorization and $1,000 per day advance payment required for hospitalization.
Getting good information
could save hundreds
The average cost of a trip to the emergency room is around $500. Yet research
shows that between 60 and 80 percent of
the people who show up don’t need to be
there in the first place. Studies also show
that when people have the right information
about their symptoms, they will make the
most convenient and cost-effective decision.
To help members decipher stomachaches, headaches and other symptoms
—and save them the cost of a trip to the
emergency room—Costco’s Medical
Savings Card offers a 24-hour nurse hotline.
The hotline is staffed by registered
nurses, averaging more than 10 years of
clinical experience, many in emergency
room and critical care practice. Using
physician-approved clinical-assessment
guidelines, along with asking the caller
questions about their symptoms, the nurses
can offer appropriate care alternatives.
The first step is to determine whether
or not the caller’s symptoms suggest a
medical emergency; if it does, he or she is
instructed to hang up and call 911. If not,
the nurses will suggest options based on
the severity of the symptoms, such as seeing a doctor within a specified period of
time or using home-care remedies. The
nurses do not make a diagnosis. Only a
physician can do that. IC
