Health care can be confusing. It’s normal to have questions — especially when you’re trying to figure out what’s covered or how your claim was processed.
If you’re enrolled in the Aetna® medical plan, the Aetna Health℠ app is like an on-call personal assistant who helps make health care simpler.
Here are new tools that make it easier to access your plan info
New! Understand claims at a glance
Snap a photo of your provider bill to match it with the right claim. Then you’ll get a clear breakdown of what your plan covers and what you owe.
Ask away, get quick answers
Tap the smart chat icon for quick answers to questions, 24/7. Try “What’s my deductible?” You can also chat with a live agent Monday–Friday, 8 am–6 pm.
Use the search bar to get more detailed answers — but without medical terms or complex language. Type “What’s my chiro benefit?” and you’ll get your copay, visit limit and other coverage info.
Track your costs
Tap into tools to track your spending, deductible, coinsurance, claims and Health Care Reimbursement Account expenses. That way, you can stay on top of your health care costs.
What else can you do on the Aetna Health app?
Access your ID card
Check coverage
Find care
Compare costs and more
New! Get personalized care recommendations
Get started with Aetna Care Paths for personalized condition support, tailored care recommendations and more — all powered by technology to simplify your health care experience.
Between work, family and everything else, it’s easy to put health on the back burner — especially if you’re not feeling sick. When you’re caring for others, it’s easy to overlook preventive care and other ways to stay healthy. But when you take care of yourself, you’re in a better position to support those around you. Your well-being matters — and taking time for it is important.
Here are 3 ways to stay on top of your health and your family’s — and make the most of your benefits
1. Save time and money when you need care right away
The ER is for emergencies Using the emergency room (ER) for nonemergency care can lead to longer wait times and higher costs. When your situation isn’t life-threatening, you have other in-network options for care.
Got a sick kid? Dealing with a cold or the flu? Get urgent virtual care for a $0 copay through 98point6®— text-based care, 24/7, at home or on the go. It’s available to employees and dependents age 1+ enrolled in the Aetna® or HMSA medical plan. Visit 98point6/Costco or download the app so you’re ready when you need care.
Wondering where to go for care? Not sure if you need the ER or if it can wait until morning? Call the Aetna 24-Hour Nurse Line for guidance from a registered nurse. They’re available 24/7 at 800-556-1555 (TTY: 711) to answer health questions and help you find urgent in-network care when you need it.
You can also download the Aetna Health℠ app to find in-network urgent care and walk-in clinics. (Text AETNA to 90156 to download the app. Note that message and data rates may apply.)
In case of emergency For a true emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER. True emergencies are always covered — even out of network.
2. Get your annual checkups on the calendar
It may take weeks — sometimes months — to get in for your routine checkup. Schedule yours early and build a healthy habit.
Preventive care is key, even if you’re healthy. It includes your yearly physical, recommended screenings and vaccines. Your provider can use these tools to help catch health issues early, like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and some cancers. They can also recommend heart-healthy lifestyle habits to reduce your risk of serious conditions down the road.
Don’t forget: You pay $0 when you use in-network providers. Having trouble finding an in-network doctor accepting new patients? Your Aetna Health Concierge can help you find providers and schedule appointments.
3. Book dental and vision exams early
Planning ahead helps prevent you from competing for appointments during the end-of-year rush.
Dental exams and cleanings protect your teeth, mouth and overall health. Plus, you and your enrolled dependents can each earn a $50 credit toward your medical deductible and coinsurance when you get your first dental cleaning each year with an in-network dentist.
Eye exams check vision and can spot early signs of conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Your plan pays up to $80 for your annual eye exam and $200 toward prescribed eyewear from Costco Optical every year.
If you’re unsure about your hearing, consider scheduling a hearing exam at a Costco Hearing Aid Center. If you need medically necessary hearing aids, your plan pays up to $1,750 every 4 years. Your plan also pays up to $3,000 every 4 years for enrolled dependents under age 18.
Finding a provider who’s taking new patients can take time, and appointments may be weeks or even months out. Staying in-network helps you get the care you need and make the most of your benefits. Your health plan covers medically necessary care when you choose in-network doctors or providers. Keep in mind that out-of-network care isn’t covered — except for emergencies.
You have a few different ways to find in-network providers accepting new patients and who are also a good fit for your needs and health conditions.
If you’re enrolled in the Costco medical plan:
Costcobenefits.com — Go to Costcobenefits.com and select “Find a Doctor” under Health & Wellness.
If you’re enrolled in the Aetna medical plan:
Aetna Health℠ app — If you haven’t already, download the Aetna Health app to try out some of its new features. The app now has a dark mode for easier viewing in low light.
Aetna Smart Compare® Intelligent Matching — Get a “Picked for You” list of providers based on your needs. Each one meets the highest standards for quality and effective care. Use “Find Care & Pricing” to search or ask Aetna Smart Chat to give you a list of options near you.
Accepting new patients — Click on a provider to see how many new Aetna patients they’ve seen in the past 6 months. This helps you gauge if they’re taking new patients before you call.
Aetna ID card — Your Aetna ID card gives you an option for a primary care provider (PCP) that you can use, but you can see any provider in the network.
Aetna Health Concierge — Your Aetna Health Concierge can help you find in-network providers accepting new patients and even help you schedule appointments. Connect through Aetna Chat or call 800-814-3543 (TTY: 711).
If you’re enrolled in the Costco medical plan, you have access to virtual care:
Mainland and Hawaii: 98point6® app offers on-demand primary and urgent care via text for a $0 copay.
Hawaii: HMSA’s Online Care lets you see a doctor online for physical and mental health care at any time.
Puerto Rico: TeleConsulta MD lets you see a doctor online in minutes. Get a diagnosis or prescription medication, review test results and more.
Puerto Rico: TeleConsulta connects you with a registered nurse, 24/7/365, for any health-related questions and where to go for care.
Preventive care can be a lifesaver
You deserve to feel your best — and routine preventive care is part of that. Regular checkups give you and your PCP a clearer picture of your overall health.
Mammograms, for example, are a key part of annual preventive care for women. They help detect breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable. Right now, about 1,800 Costco employees and their family members are receiving treatment for breast cancer.
Your free annual physical can also help you find out if your blood pressure, blood sugar or cholesterol are higher than they should be. High levels can increase your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes and stroke.1
While an ER doctor can help treat symptoms you’re experiencing in the moment, your PCP knows your medical history and how best to manage your health conditions for the long term. They can also prescribe and refill prescriptions when needed.
You have support to make small changes that can have a big impact on your health.
If you have a PCP, you’re 19% less likely to end up in the ER.
Get support between visits with Omada
Imagine this: You see your PCP and find out your blood sugar is too high — you have diabetes.
Your doctor tells you to change your diet and exercise more. But how? Your Costco benefits include Omada® for care between visits for diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol management, for those who qualify.
You’ll get support from a health coach, nutrition guidance and free tools to track your progress. The next time you see your doctor, you’ll hear, “Great job — your numbers are under control!”
WITT means “We’re in This Together.” When it comes to health and well-being, we all have a role to play. Costco’s role is to provide broad and affordable benefits to ensure you can get the right care and support. Your role as an employee is to get to know your available benefits and use them wisely.
The WITT pledge is the easiest way to connect to all your Costco benefits. Here’s how it works:
Take the WITT pledge
Sign up for benefits emails and texts
Make the most of your benefits
Use them to feel and be your best
Explore benefits resources
Bookmark WITTpledge.com for interactive guides
Watch for monthly articles, videos & podcasts
Know what’s available to support you and your family
What am I pledging to do?
You’re pledging to learn how your benefits can support every part of your physical, emotional, financial and social well-being — and all the info lives on WITTpledge.com.
Physical well-being
Get free preventive care plus support for gut health, sleep, nutrition and more
Emotional well-being
Manage your mental health, stress, anxiety and life’s challenges
Financial well-being
Find employee discounts plus tools to help you budget, save and plan
Social well-being
Build healthy relationships at home, school, work and in the community
What can I find on WITTpledge.com that’s not on Costcobenefits.com?
Monthly benefits focus page with new content and featured resources
Benefits & resources page for links to Benefits Guides, Women’s and Men’s Health Guides, and Quick Reference Guides
Podcasts page to hear personal stories on how employees used their benefits to overcome health and well-being challenges
Manager toolkit for leaders to access benefits flyers, presentation slides for All-Hands meetings, Resources for Living® manager resources, Quick Reference Guides and other helpful links
Bookmark and browse the site to see all that’s available.
What can I expect each month?
There’s a lot to look forward to! Here are the WITT topics for the year ahead.
Leaders, use this list as a roadmap to support benefits at your location.
January
Pledge to make the most of your benefits
February
Preventive care and heart health
March
Nutrition, gut and weight health
April
Financial and legal benefits
May
Mental health and sleep support
June
Women’s and men’s health
July
Alcohol, nicotine and prescription medication support
August
Maternity, family and leave benefits
September
Suicide prevention and joint and muscle health
October
Dental and vision checkups
November
Annual Enrollment
December
Virtual care
WITT by the numbers
97,486 Costco employees and their family members took the WITT pledge in 2025.
Those who take the pledge better understand the benefits of preventive care. They’re more likely to have a PCP who knows their health history and can help spot issues early.
Employees who have a PCP are 19% less likely to end up in the ER.
Pledgers are also more likely to enroll in programs like Omada — and 90% of employees who use Omada virtual physical therapy report a reduction in pain.
My spouse or domestic partner wants to know about our benefits. Can they pledge?
Yes! You can check the box to include them when you take the pledge,
or share the link to WITTpledge.com
so they can pledge too.
Balancing a busy schedule and a balanced diet on a budget can be tricky. But there’s a solution right in the warehouse. Pick up a Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken and feed yourself and your family all week.
Shred the chicken and mix with mayo, celery and a little mustard. Wrap in a tortilla with lettuce for a grab-and-go meal.
Chicken soup
Simmer chicken with broth, noodles or rice, carrots and celery for a comforting, hearty soup that’s ready in minutes.
BBQ chicken sandwiches
Mix shredded chicken with barbecue sauce, pile onto buns, and top with coleslaw for a sweet and tangy meal.
Chicken quesadillas
Layer chicken, cheese and salsa between tortillas. Cook in a skillet until crispy and serve with sour cream or guacamole.
Chicken and veggie stir-fry
Slice chicken and toss with mixed vegetables in a skillet. Add soy sauce and serve over rice for a fast, healthy dinner.
Easy Thai chicken veggie bowl
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 5 min
Serves: 1
Here’s another take on chicken and veggies. Meal prep all the ingredients for this bowl ahead of time and you can pull this easy lunch or dinner together in a flash. Recipe adapted from WeightWatchers.
Ingredients:
2 tbsp. Thai peanut sauce
2 tsp. fresh lime juice
1 cup broccoli slaw
1/2 cup rotisserie chicken, shredded
1/2 cup shelled edamame
1/2 cup cooked sweet potato, cubed
Directions:
Step 1
In a medium bowl, whisk together the peanut sauce and lime juice.
Step 2
Then add the broccoli slaw and chicken to the bowl. Toss to coat.
Step 3
In a shallow bowl, arrange the edamame and sweet potatoes.
Step 4
Top the edamame and sweet potatoes with the chicken mixture, then serve and enjoy!
Nutrition facts
Serving size: 1 bowl | Calories: 398 | Total fat: 10 g | Sodium: 487 mg | Total carbohydrates: 43 g | Sugar: 6 g | Fiber: 10 g | Protein: 34 g
Need more healthy meal ideas?
If you’re enrolled in the Aetna® medical plan, you can work with a registered dietitian through the Live Healthy Team. They can offer guidance on meal planning, nutrition and weight management. To get started, call the Live Healthy Team at 800-814-3543, Monday–Friday, 7 am–7 pm CT.
Looking for even more healthy recipes? With the WeightWatchers program and app, you can lose weight, eat healthier, move more and develop a more positive mindset. Costco employees can join now for as low as $9 per month, andspouses/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.
During Annual Enrollment, we shared the changes for 2026. Now it’s time to get to know them better — like more counseling sessions through Resources for Living® (RFL®) and a bigger allowance for prescription eyewear.
Get more free counseling sessions. You now have 8 free sessions per issue, per year through RFL®, up from 6. Use your sessions with in-person, virtual or chat therapy. Sessions can be used for individual, family or couples counseling.
Enjoy a bigger vision hardware allowance. The annual allowance for prescribed glasses and contacts increased from $175 to $200. Remember: These funds need to be used by the end of each year.
Earn a $50 credit for an in-network dental cleaning. You and your enrolled family members can each earn a $50 credit toward your medical deductible and coinsurance when you get your first in-network dental cleaning each year.
Sleep better with GEM Sleep’s sleep apnea support. If you’re enrolled in the Aetna® medical plan, you can use GEM Sleep through Sleepio to get a diagnosis from home. Plus, get treatment options based on your evaluation. GEM Sleep is available to mainland employees only.
Watch the mail for your new Navitus pharmacy ID card. Your coverage is still the same, but Navitus Health Solutions replaced Costco Health Solutions as your pharmacy benefits administrator. You can use your new pharmacy card at any network pharmacy. You can also use your employee ID to fill prescriptions at a Costco Pharmacy. Navitus is for mainland and Hawaii employees only.
Know before you go — ER visits cost more in 2026
The copay for an emergency room (ER) visit on the Aetna medical plan is now $200 (up from $150). Deductible and coinsurance still apply. If it’s not a true emergency, you have other options for care, such as urgent care and 98point6 virtual care for a $0 copay. For all the changes, check your 2026 Benefit Plan Changes booklet.
Your benefits aren’t just for checkups and health concerns. They’re here to support your health, your family and your peace of mind — no matter what life brings. We’ve heard your feedback — here are some of the benefits employees have asked to learn more about.
Working at Costco can be physically demanding. Your benefits can help.
Explore virtual physical therapy from Omada for joint and muscle pain.
Get chiropractic care, acupuncture and massage therapy services for employees enrolled in a Costco medical plan. – Need help finding an in-network provider? Have questions about visit limits, claims or coverage? – Download the Aetna Health℠ app, use the Aetna Chat feature or call your Aetna Health Concierge at 800-814-3543 (TTY: 711).
Join a gym and take advantage of discounted gym memberships from LifeMart to keep your body and mind strong.
Improve your sleep
Sleepiocan help you clear your mind and get better sleep in just 6 weeks. Also available through Sleepio, GEM Sleep makes it easy to get a sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment from home. Your medical plan benefits apply. GEM Sleep is available to mainland employees only.
Make a will and file your taxes for free
With SmartDollar®, you have access to Mama Bear Legal Forms to help you make a will or trust for free. You can also file your taxes for free with Ramsey SmartTax®. Plus, work with a financial coach to pay off debt, save and be more intentional with money.
Find support for life’s challenges
Whether you need help managing bills, finding childcare or elder care, or managing stress — your benefits are here for you. From childcare solutions to mental health support for tough situations, Resources for Living® (RFL®)can help. All members of your household can also use RFL, including children up to age 26 whether they live at home or not. Services are free and confidential.
Complete the 2026 Benefits Survey by January 31
Tell us what you value most about your Costco benefits. Take this short survey at Costcobenefits.com.
Access your ID card
Nutrition facts
