Month: June 2025

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Articles

2 min read

2 MIN READ

JULY 2025

How to know if you need help 

Some people turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with challenging situations and feelings. This is known as self-medicating. Undiagnosed conditions such as ADHD — or even something as common as stress — can also lead to self-medicating. But substance use only makes you feel better for a little while. And it might make things such as anxiety and depression worse in the long run. There are more effective ways to cope.

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How are you really doing? This might seem like a simple question, but sometimes it’s hard to see things clearly. Take this short quiz to find out. If you answer “yes” to three or more of the questions below, there are Costco benefits and resources that can help. You can also take this quiz on behalf of someone you know.

Have you:1

Bullet Thought parties or social gatherings were only fun when drugs or alcohol were involved?
Bullet Had friends, families or coworkers express concern over your substance use?
Bullet Regularly chosen to spend more time with friends you drink or do drugs with?
Bullet Drink or use substances alone regularly, such as for help falling asleep?
Bullet Planned your schedule around getting drunk or high?
Bullet Told yourself that only drinking or using substances after work or on weekends means you don’t have a problem?
Bullet Noticed people have stopped inviting you to events where there may be substances?
Bullet Found it hard to not binge while using substances?
Bullet Hidden things such as empty alcohol or pill bottles from certain people?
Bullet Started to avoid or distrust people who ask you to use substances less often?
Bullet Woken up after using substances with no memory of what happened the night before more than once in the last six months?
Bullet Gained or lost weight because you’re using substances more often?

Source(s):

1Aetna Better Health, Substance abuse

How to get help if you need it

Drugs and alcohol aren’t the only things people can become addicted to. It might be food, vaping, shopping, social media, gaming or others. Much like managing a chronic health condition, managing these habits is a lifelong process. But it’s not something you have to do alone.

Here are a few of the resources you can turn to for help:

Live Healthy Team*
  • Navigate your behavioral health resources and find treatment programs that fit your needs.
  • Connect with a registered dietitian for guidance on nutrition and weight management, including specific meal plans to help you reach your goals.

To learn more about how the Live Healthy Team can help employees on the Costco medical plan with Aetna, listen to our podcast featuring Live Healthy Team Case Manager Patsy Delgado. For employees who aren’t enrolled in the Costco medical plan, see the resources below for help with emotional health and substance use.

Cylinder for gut health**
  • Did you know that gut health and mental health are connected? Poor gut health can cause inflammation in your body, which can lead to depression, anxiety and even brain fog. Get a free gut microbiome test with Cylinder and work with a gut expert to help identify triggers and relieve symptoms.
Resources for Living® (RFL®)
  • Get 6 free counseling sessions per person, per issue, per year, for you and your household members, and your dependent children up to age 26 living away from home. RFL can also connect you with benefits available to you that can help with substance use and mental health.
  • Use the Alma virtual mental health platform** to find the therapist who’s right for you. Search by specialty, availability, language and more, then schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
  • Get well-being coaching to help you work toward your goals. These can include professional or personal goals.
RFL Financial services
  • Get free 30-minute consultations on topics like credit and debt issues, budgeting, mortgages, refinancing and financial planning.

*Available to mainland employees enrolled in a Costco medical plan.

**Available to mainland and Hawaii employees enrolled in a Costco medical plan.

Categories
Articles

2 min read

2 MIN READ

JULY 2025

Find low- or no-cost therapy

Thinking about therapy but worried about the cost? Taking care of your mental and emotional health doesn’t have to cost you anything. Your Costco benefits include flexible, 24/7, low- or no-cost options that provide in-the-moment mental health or crisis support or fit into a busy schedule. They can help you with relationship challenges, depression, anxiety, loss of a loved one and more.

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Top 3 myths about therapy

Myth #1: It’s too expensive.

Fact: Mainland, Puerto Rico and Hawaii employees have access to free mental health programs through Resources for Living® (RFL®), your Employee Assistance Program. Additional care options — such as ongoing or longer-term therapy or psychiatry — are available through your Costco medical plan for a low copay. 

Myth #2: It’s too hard to find the right fit.

Fact: An RFL Care Partner can help you find a therapist who fits your needs. They’ll do the work to find in-network providers who are accepting new patients, then follow up in 3–5 days with options. And you can always ask for more recommendations. You get 6 free counseling sessions per person, per issue, per year. All employees, family members and their dependent children up to age 26 can use RFL.


Mainland and Hawaii employees can also use the Alma virtual mental health platform to find a therapist based on specialty, language and more. You can schedule 15-minute consultations with your recommended providers. That way, you can get a feel for whether they’re right for you. These consultations don’t count toward your free counseling sessions. They begin once you choose a provider.


AbleTo offers free 8-week programs designed to fit your needs and is available to mainland and Hawaii employees age 18+. They can help address specific concerns. For example, ways of thinking that trigger anxiety and panic attacks. A program might help you learn how to recognize these triggers and manage your feelings.


Do you have children under 18 you think could use extra emotional support? Virtual care can be a good option for those who feel more comfortable opening up to someone from the comfort of their home. Mainland employees and kids can use Telemynd for virtual therapy or psychiatry. Talkiatry also offers virtual psychiatry for kids age 5+ and is available in most states. Your copay applies to both of these programs.

Myth #3: It’s too hard to find the time.

Fact: Get help that works for your schedule — or even right away. You can also get 24/7 in-the-moment mental health support from RFL.


Talkspace lets you send messages to your therapist, 24/7. A week of messaging counts as one session. If you prefer support that moves at your own pace, Mind Companion Self-care offers interactive options that include videos, exercises and more in a self-guided digital app.


Another resource that’s available 24/7 is Supportiv. Chat anonymously with peers who get what you’re going through, for as long as you like. Just search a few words at Supportiv.com/Costco to find a group of up to 5 plus a trained moderator.


Need immediate help? You can call or text 988 for yourself or someone else 24/7 to speak with someone from the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Categories
Articles

8 min listen

8 MIN LISTEN

JULY 2025

Podcast: Meet Patsy, your Live Healthy Team nurse

Need some help to get back on track? Hear how Patsy Delgado, a registered nurse with the Live Healthy Team, connects employees with benefits and resources that make all the difference.

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+

Show transcript

What can the Live Healthy Team do for you?

The path to good health is rarely a straight line. Setbacks and slip-ups happen, whether you’re trying to eat healthier, manage a health condition, overcome alcohol or substance use concerns, or just get through a stressful life event. To help you get back on track, the Live Healthy Team is here for mainland employees enrolled in the Aetna® medical plan.

Employees in Puerto Rico and Hawaii also have access to health support. See below for some examples, including the Costco Tobacco & Nicotine Cessation Program to help employees quit tobacco and nicotine. 

Find and get help when you need it


Your dedicated Live Healthy Team coach can connect you with one-on-one health support from medical professionals, resources, care and other benefits that meet your unique needs. Here are some ways they can help:

  • Registered nurses offer education, coordinate care — including finding in-network providers accepting new patients — and help guide you through any steps around claims. 
  • Clinical pharmacists review, manage and provide education on your medications. 
  • Behavioral health clinicians help you navigate mental health resources, get treatment for alcohol or substance use concerns, and manage stressful life events. 
  • Registered dietitians can develop meal and nutrition plans for managing chronic conditions and reaching health goals. They also show how what you eat affects how you feel physically and mentally. They can even help with fitness goals, like wanting to build more muscle. To connect with a registered dietitian, call the Live Healthy Team or complete the Registered Dietitian Form.

800-814-3543 (option 2) | Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. CT | No cost 

Puerto Rico resources

For employees in Puerto Rico, SSS Contigo, available through your Triple-S medical plan, goes the extra mile to take care of your health. They have a group of experts available to you, focused on your well-being. That includes:

  • Nurses to offer education, coordinate care — including finding in-network providers that are accepting new patients — and help guide you through any steps around claims. 
  • Health educators to provide virtual workshops and telephone counseling on health topics.
  • Nutritionists to provide guidance on nutrition and weight management.
  • Behavioral health clinicians to navigate mental health resources, life events and stress.
  • Social workers to find resources in your community.

Explore Triple-S flyers in English and Spanish for more information.


SSSPR.com | Mi Triple-S app | 787-706-2552 or 800-981-3241

Hawaii: Additional resources

For employees in Hawaii, HMSA offers benefits and programs for creating a nutrition plan, getting active, finding preventive care and managing chronic illness. Call HMSA at 800-776-4672 or explore the HMSA benefits flyer to learn more.

HMSA’s Online Care allows you to see a doctor online for physical and mental health support at any time. See an online care provider when you need help with:

For physical health:

  • Urgent conditions such as bronchitis or ear and sinus infections.
  • Common conditions such as cold or flu.
  • Chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension or allergies.
  • Nutrition education.
  • Health and well-being goals.

For mental health:

  • Emotional support.
  • Stress and anxiety management.

You must be in Hawaii to use HMSA’s Online care.

HMSAonlinecare.com | HMSA’s Online Care app | 800-776-4672

Categories
Articles

1 min read

1 MIN READ

JULY 2025

Sober ways to have fun with friends 

Being completely sober or taking a break from substances is a choice people make for many reasons. And it’s becoming more common — especially for Gen Z. It may feel like most social activities revolve around using substances. And while you can still attend events where there are substances, you have other options.

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Choosing to be sober doesn’t mean giving up your social life

Whether sobriety is a long-term lifestyle or you’re taking a short break, below are substance-free ways to spend time with friends and loved ones.

  • Meet up at places that aren’t bars — Connect at a coffee shop, explore a museum or hang out at a park.
  • Try something new together — Sign up for a cooking or dance class, or try a new hobby like painting or pottery. 
  • Enjoy outdoor activities — Discover the healing power of a hike or wander around a farmers market. 
  • Host your own gathering — Start a book club, or plan a game night, potluck dinner or movie marathon. 
  • Focus on connections — Meaningful conversations, laughing and making memories help you build a life that doesn’t revolve around substances. 

If you’re looking to expand your social circle, Resources for Living® (RFL®) Worklife can help point you to activities that are happening in your local community based on your budget, interests and schedule. Call RFL to learn more: 833-721-2320 (TTY: 711).

Have social anxiety? Get help through counseling

Some people rely on substances to feel more comfortable in social situations, especially if they’re shy or don’t know many people at an event. Counseling can help you build coping skills so you can enjoy yourself — and even make new friends.

You have many options when it comes to the type of mental health support you’d like. For example, 8-week self-guided programs from AbleTo or anonymous peer-to-peer chat from Supportiv. Scroll down to the resources section to learn more and get started.

You can also view your Benefits Guide for a full list of options, including mental health resources.

Categories
Recipes

1 min read

1 MIN READ

JULY 2025

Gut-friendly breakfast muffins

These muffins bake up with loads of banana flavor and a creamy-custardy texture. They don’t use any flour and are filled with ingredients that are good for your gut microbiome — like yogurt, chickpeas, apples and bananas.

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Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 15 min | Total Time: 45 min
Serves: 12
Ingredients:

4 spray(s) of cooking spray

1/2 cup plain fat free Greek yogurt 

3 medium bananas, very ripe 

15 oz. can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), 
drained and rinsed 

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. ground cinnamon 

1/2 tsp. salt 

4 large eggs 

1/2 medium apple, cored and cut into thin slices  

Directions:
Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners (or use a silicone muffin pan); coat the liners with cooking spray. 

Step 2

In a blender, puree the yogurt, bananas, chickpeas, baking powder, cinnamon, vanilla, salt and eggs until smooth, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups (the cups will be full). If desired, arrange 2 apple slices on top of each muffin. Bake until set, 30 minutes.

Serving size: 1 muffin 

Notes:

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Enjoy them cold or reheat for about 20 seconds in the microwave.

Nutrition

Serving size: 1 muffin | Calories: 150 | Total fat: 3 g | Sodium: 301 mg | Total carbohydrates: 33 g | Sugar: 4 g | Fiber: 8 g | Protein: 6 g

Source: WeightWatchers 

Enjoy low monthly rates from WeightWatchers. Costco employees can join for as low as $9 per month, and spouses/domestic partners and dependents can join for as low as $14.50 each per month. Participants must be age 18 or older to join. Sign up at WW.com/Costco or call 866-204-2885.