New York CNN –
Costco is now offering its members online health exams for just $29.
The retailer is offering the new service in partnership with Sesame, a direct healthcare marketplace that connects medical providers with consumers nationwide.
Sesame said in a news release that starting Monday, Costco members will be able to book health visits directly through their memberships in all 50 states.
The New York-based company said its platform does not accept health insurance because it primarily targets uninsured Americans and those with high-deductible plans who prefer to pay for their health care in cash. The model helps keep service prices low for users, it said.
Services listed on Costco Pharmacy’s homepage include virtual primary care visits for $29, health exams (a standard lab panel and a virtual follow-up consultation with a provider) for just $72, and online mental health visits for $79.
“Quality, value and low prices are what the Costco brand is known for,” Sesame co-founder and CEO David Goldhill said in a statement. “When it comes to health care, Sesame also offers high quality and value – and a low price that Costco members appreciate when it comes to their own care.”
Costco is among several retailers offering health care directly to customers as demand for access to emergency care outside of a traditional hospital setting booms.
Amazon announced in August that its virtual clinic was now available nationwide. Launched last November, Amazon Clinic offers 24/7 access to third-party healthcare providers directly through Amazon’s website and mobile app.
Amazon customers can access telemedicine treatments for dozens of common conditions such as pink eye, urinary tract infections and hair loss through the clinic, the retailer said.
Other retailers, including CVS to Walgreens to Walmart, have taken similar steps.