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APRIL 2025
Retirement planning: 3 ways Costco helps
Ever wonder what life will be like after you stop working? Often, what retirement will look like depends on how you prepare before you retire. Whether retirement is a year away or 25 years, learn what you need to know now for retirement later.
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Costco 401(k) Retirement Plan: The annual company contribution helps you grow your savings
Costco invests in your future with both matching and annual company contributions to your Costco 401(k) Retirement Plan account. Employees in Puerto Rico have the Costco Puerto Rico Retirement Plan.
Eligibility: Once an employee has completed a year of service, they’ll be entered into the company contribution portion of the plan beginning the first day of the month after their anniversary date.
Annual company contribution: Costco contributes a percentage of eligible earnings paid from the entry date – regular pay, overtime, vacation pay, holiday pay, sick pay, paid time off and extra checks – to your 401(k) account*, even if you don’t make any contributions of your own.
The contribution starts at 4% for an employee’s first few years, and increases as your years of service increase, capping at 9% after 25 years.
Matching company contribution: The company also matches 50% of your own contributions, up to $500 a year.
Best of all – these contributions belong to you with immediate 100% vesting.
To check your account balance, set up automatic payroll deductions, adjust your investment mix and much more, go to RPS.TRowePrice.com. You’ll also find financial tools and resources, including an Education Library, Retirement Income Planner and calculators:
- Paycheck Impact Calculator
- Contribution Maximizer
- College Planning Calculator
- Roth Comparison Calculator
- Social Security Calculator and more
2024 Annual company contribution: Costco contributed nearly $616 million to employee retirement accounts in 2025 for the 2024 annual company contribution. If you missed the letter Costco sent noting this year’s contribution amount, see your quarterly statement from T. Rowe Price.
| Years of Service | Company Contribution | Average Contribution Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 years | 4% | $1,371 |
| 4-9 years | 5% | $2,996 |
| 10-14 years | 6% | $4,198 |
| 15-19 years | 7% | $4,994 |
| 20-24 years | 8% | $5,897 |
| 25+ years | 9% | $7,147 |
*Employees at union warehouses should consult their collective bargaining agreement for more information about Costco’s contributions to their 401(k) plan.
Purchase company stock and become a shareholder in the company
The Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with UBS lets you purchase Costco stock through payroll deductions. You choose the amount you’d like to invest each pay period. Fees and commissions for these purchases are fully paid by Costco. To learn more, visit Costcobenefits.com > Financial Wellbeing > Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
Get familiar with Medicare — know your health coverage options before and after 65
While Medicare is available beginning at age 65, if you retire before age 65, you’ll need health coverage to fill the gap. You can explore coverage options available at HealthCare.gov, or you can contact the Benefits Department at 800-284-4882 to learn more about your retirement health plan options.
Do you or a family member have questions about Medicare, Medicare Advantage or Supplemental plans? Get answers to your questions. SGIA Medicare Consulting offers one-on-one support to help you find the plan that fits your needs. This service is available at no cost to all Costco employees and their families, including parents.
To connect with a Medicare expert, call 888-821-6486 or learn more at sgiamedicare.com/costco.
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MARCH 2025
3 sleeping positions that ease pain
When you don’t get enough sleep, your body feels pain more intensely and takes longer to heal. Finding a comfortable sleep position can be challenging. Here are three to try.
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A pillow in the right place can make all the difference
Back sleeping
Many people find that sleeping on their back is the best position to relieve discomfort. When you’re on your back, your weight is evenly distributed throughout your body.
- Lie on your back.
- Place a pillow under your knees. This keeps your knees and hips in a loose, mid-range position.
For your head pillow: Choose one that feels comfortable to you. You’ll want to keep your neck straight, which you can do with a thin style or memory foam pillow.
Stomach sleeping
If you like sleeping on your stomach:
- Place a pillow under your pelvis and lower belly.
- Make sure your feet are comfortable. You can try letting them hang over the edge of your bed, or place a pillow below your shins.
If you like sleeping on your stomach but find the pillow uncomfortable, try sleeping on your side while holding a body pillow. This gives your back more support.
For your head pillow: You may decide to skip a head pillow or choose one that’s a bit flatter.
Side sleeping
If you’re a side sleeper or want to try side sleeping:
- Allow the right or left side of your body, including your shoulder, to make contact with your mattress.
- Place a pillow or rolled-up towel (about the size of your fist) between your knees to support your hips and back.
- If there’s a gap between your waist and the mattress, add another small pillow or rolled-up towel.
For your head pillow: Rest your head on a firm, rather than soft, pillow.
Try not to sleep on the same side every time or in the same position. Changing positions relieves pressure on certain parts of your body for pain-free sleep.
Check out these sleep resources.
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MARCH 2025
Get to know your gut microbiome
More than 40,000 Costco employees and family members are living with gut health issues. Many have been suffering in silence. Poor gut health can take a toll on your physical and mental health. But there’s help. Join the 13,000+ who have started using Cylinder*, your free digestive health program.
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What’s a gut microbiome?
Your gut microbiome is the community of “good” and “bad” bacteria that live inside your stomach and intestines. They help you digest food, fight off germs and maintain a healthy weight. If your body doesn’t have enough good bacteria, bad bacteria can thrive, causing a range of health issues:
| Digestive issues | Skin conditions | Mental health issues | Other health problems |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloating/gas | Eczema | Anxiety | Headaches |
| Constipation | Psoriasis | Depression | Fatigue |
| Diarrhea | Rosacea | Mood swings | Joint pain |
| Heartburn | Acne | Inflammation | |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) | Rheumatoid arthritis | ||
| Food sensitivities | Allergies |
Cylinder: Learn about your gut health
Cylinder, your no-cost digestive health benefit, offers:
- A free at-home GutCheck microbiome health test to measure the good and bad bacteria in your gut
- Access to a team of experts, including a registered dietician and health coach, who can help you identify triggers and find symptom relief
Sign up at Go.CylinderHealth.com/Costco (access code: Costco) or call 888‑246‑5019. The program is available at no cost to employees and dependents age 18+ enrolled in a Costco medical plan. No diagnosis is needed to get started.
Foods that can help
When you feed your body, you’re also feeding the bacteria that live in your gut, helping them thrive. As a general rule, they’re healthy eaters. Try adding more whole foods to your diet and make sure you stay hydrated.
Foods that can hurt
As much as possible, try avoiding processed foods, such as:
Did you know? Cylinder can also help with colorectal cancer prevention by getting you ready for screenings, navigating appointments and helping you make lifestyle changes that can prevent cancer. Get started today.
*Cylinder is not available in Puerto Rico.
Source:
Johns Hopkins Medicine. Eating for your gut.
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FEBRUARY 2025
Catch conditions early when they’re easier to treat
Skin cancer and breast cancer are the two most common cancers among Costco employees. More than 6,000 employees and their family members are dealing with skin cancer. Nearly 1,800 have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Find out how you can catch these conditions early, when treatment is most effective.
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The power of preventive care
Preventive services such as annual physical exams and mammograms are powerful weapons in fighting these cancers. A recent study shows that regular mammograms reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer by 50%.1 Only 21% of Costco employees and family members get all of their recommended preventive services each year. Are you up to date on your preventive care?
Routine preventive care helps you stay ahead of illness and disease so you can be your best. Preventive care includes services such as your annual physical, certain blood tests, cancer screenings and vaccines, even dental cleanings and vision exams. This kind of care helps you and your doctor know how you’re doing. Most importantly, it can catch a health condition in its earliest stages, when it’s easier to treat.
How to find a PCP
Employees and their family members enrolled in a Costco medical plan can find an in-network primary care provider by visiting Costcobenefits.com and clicking “Find a Doctor” under Health & Wellness.
Mainland employees can learn more about how to find the PCP that’s right for them in this Aetna ID card update:
Aetna ID card update for mainland employees
To make it easier for you and your family members enrolled in an Aetna medical plan to access preventive care, your new Aetna ID card will have a PCP listed for you and each family member.
Here are a few other things to know:
- Your plan hasn’t changed. It’s not an HMO. You are not required to see the PCP on your ID card and your plan doesn’t require a referral to see a specialist.
- Your PCP was carefully selected. If you’ve seen a PCP in the last two years, we’ve added the most recent PCP or practice name to your card.
- If you haven’t, we looked for PCPs accepting new patients within 25 miles who have met the Aetna Smart Compare® high standards for care.
- You can change your PCP at any time, and as many times as you need, by calling your Aetna Health Concierge* at 800-814-3543 (TTY: 711).
- If you change your PCP, we’ll send you a new card. Your digital ID card will be available on your Aetna member website the next day.
- Note: If you see a physician’s assistant (PA) or nurse practitioner (NP), you may see the supervising physician’s name or the practice name on your card.
Your PCP is your partner in good health
Your primary care physician (PCP) is your first stop for preventive care. They can give you your annual physical and order blood work, tests and screenings.
Here are some recommended preventive services. Your age, gender, and family and personal medical histories can make a difference in which services you need and when to start them. Ask your doctor what’s right for you.
Don’t forget about dental and vision exams
Learn more about what regular dental care can do for you here.
It’s important to get an annual eye exam, even if you have perfect 20/20 vision. Eye exams can help catch brain tumors, cancer, heart disease and more. In 2024, over 100,000 Costco employees and family members got their annual eye exam. Nearly 3,400 discovered a condition they didn’t know about, giving them the opportunity to seek care. The most common conditions were:
- High blood pressure or cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
Employees and their family members enrolled in a Costco medical plan are automatically enrolled in vision coverage.
The plan will pay:
- Up to $80 for your annual refractive eye exam
- $175 toward the purchase of prescribed eyewear every year (you don’t have to spend it all at once)
You also get $1,750 toward the purchase of prescribed medically necessary hearing aids every four years.
Protect your health by quitting tobacco or nicotine for good
If you use tobacco and/or nicotine, think about making this your year to quit. The Costco Tobacco & Nicotine Cessation Program can provide the support you need with a plan personalized for you. You’ve got so much to gain once you stop smoking, using tobacco or vaping, including:
- A lower risk for heart attack and certain cancers
- Improved blood flow
- Better lung function
- A lower risk for gum disease, tooth loss, dry eye syndrome and cataracts
And that’s just a start. Imagine climbing stairs or playing with the kids and not being out of breath. Even food tastes better! Visit Costcobenefits.com and click “Quit Tobacco” under Health & Wellness to start your journey to quitting for good.
1American Association for Cancer Research. Mammography screening and risk of breast cancer death: a population-based case-control study.
*Available to mainland employees only.
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Thanks for everything
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING
DECEMBER 2024
Here’s to you!
Once again, it’s you — our employees — that have fueled Costco’s success this year. We’re grateful for the hard work, creativity and dedication each one of you brings to your work on a daily basis.
And you’ve been working on yourselves, too. Over 92,000 of you have taken this year’s We’re in This Together pledge to learn more about the benefit resources available to you and your family. Your spouses or domestic partners have increased their participation in the pledge, as well. Over 10,000 of you enrolled in our new digestive health program, Cylinder*, in its first month. And Supportiv, our peer-to-peer chat support resource, earned a user score of 4.7 stars (out of 5).
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Why pledge in 2025?
Every year brings different challenges — and often new or enhanced benefits programs to meet them. So even if you pledged in the past, pledge again starting January 1, 2025, along with your spouse or domestic partner. Look for more information coming soon in the mail and on this website.
It’s a wonder-filled life
Research shows that experiencing wonder is good for you in many ways. It can lower stress, decrease inflammation and promote trust and bonding. So we’ve chosen “wonder” as our We’re in This Together theme for 2025. Take advantage of your Costco benefits, and you might just be in awe of what you can achieve.
Your stories are the best stories
This year, four Costco employees shared how they used their benefits to help themselves and their families get the care they needed right when they needed it. If you haven’t heard their inspiring stories, you can listen here. It’s a great way to see your benefits in action.
At Costco, it’s our responsibility and ongoing promise to provide our employees with exceptional health benefits that are reflective of how much we value their service to Costco. And it’s just as important for our employees to understand the great benefits they have available so they can use them wisely.
The best way to stay informed about the many benefit programs available to you and your family is by taking the annual We’re in This Together (WITT) pledge. By taking the pledge, you will have access to beneficial content that will result in you getting the most out of your benefits that Costco is proud to offer to you.
Thank you for your continued hard work and for your many contributions toward Costco’s great success. My best wishes to you and your family for a healthy 2025!
Ron Vachris,
President & CEO
*Not available in Puerto Rico.
Sources:
The New York Times. How a bit of awe can improve your health.
The Washington Post. Why it is awesome that your brain can experience awe.