We already love Costco for so many reasons, from their legendary $1.50 hot dog meals to their 5-pound pies to their amazing treatment of their employees. So let’s add one more big awesome thing to the pile. This week, Wholesale Club announced new programs designed to make families’ fertility journeys easier, from saving them time to saving them money.
The program includes a partnership between healthcare platform Sesame and fertility network IVI RMA North America, with the three companies pledging to work together to save Costco members up to 80% on fertility drugs and increase access to the medical professionals, tests and treatments they need.
“Our partnership with Sesame and IVI RMA reflects our commitment to transparent and affordable solutions that reduce barriers and make care more accessible to our members,” Richard Stevens, Costco’s senior vice president of pharmacy, said in a press release. “The combination of transparent pricing and coordinated care removes the barriers that have historically kept quality fertility care out of reach for too many families.”
Here’s how it works: Costco members begin the process by signing up for Sesame, a digital healthcare platform, where they go through the intake and diagnosis process. Patients who are flagged as needing additional fertility treatment assistance are then transferred to IVI RMA North America, where they are connected to a specialist to develop a treatment plan that includes common options such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI).
“This partnership puts people in control of their reproductive health without barriers, stigma or wait times,” Sesame CEO and founder David Goldhill said in a press release. “By connecting patients directly with care coordinators and world-class experts, we make family planning more accessible and deliver measurably better outcomes through a coordinated continuum of care.”
In addition to medical visits and procedures, infertility treatments often include prescription drugs such as Follistim, which can be cost-prohibitive for many families. However, as part of this program, Costco members will be able to obtain medications at significantly lower prices at Costco pharmacies, potentially saving as much as 80%.
Costco believes this will save families thousands of dollars. every cycle While they are trying to get pregnant.
At the same time, families can remain on the Sesame app and access information, guidance and support throughout the process.
And let me just say…you can also stop for a hot dog on your way out the door to pick up your fertility drugs.
