Last updated: October 25, 2026 · On October 25, 2026 we checked Costco’s membership page, the Executive 2% Reward terms, the Executive upgrade benefits page, a sample warehouse hours page, the Member-Only Warehouse Savings page, the Costco Hearing Aid Center and Optical pages, and the Costco Member Prescription Program FAQ on costco.com. Costco can change prices, hours and benefits at any time, so confirm on costco.com or at your warehouse before you join.
- No. Costco does not publish a senior discount: none of the costco.com membership pages we checked on October 25, 2026 list an age-based price or senior perk, and the Gold Star membership costs the same $65 a year at any age.
- Current US prices on costco.com: Gold Star $65/yr, Business $65/yr, Executive $130/yr (plus applicable sales tax). Each membership includes a free Household Card.
- Executive members earn an annual 2% Reward, up to $1,250, on qualified Costco, Costco.com and Costco Travel purchases.
- Warehouse pages now show earlier Executive Member hours (for example 9:00 AM on weekdays at the Seattle warehouse versus 10:00 AM for Gold Star). These are tied to the membership tier, not to age.
- Other real savings: the free Costco Member Prescription Program, free hearing tests for members at the Hearing Aid Center, and monthly Member-Only Warehouse Savings.
Lots of stores give shoppers 55, 60 or 65 and older a percentage off on certain days, so it’s natural to ask whether Costco does the same. This guide is for retirees, older adults and family members who shop for them and want to know what Costco actually offers before paying for a membership.
Below: what costco.com says about senior pricing, current membership fees, the Executive 2% Reward and early hours, and the pharmacy, hearing aid and optical services as Costco describes them.
Costco savings for seniors at a glance (October 2026)
| Option | What Costco officially says | Status on Oct 25, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Senior discount (age-based) | No senior price or senior perk listed on costco.com membership pages | Not offered |
| Senior-only shopping hours | No senior hours shown on the warehouse page we checked | Not published |
| Gold Star membership | $65/yr plus applicable sales tax; 2 cards (you and someone in your household) | Active |
| Executive membership | $130/yr plus applicable sales tax; annual 2% Reward up to $1,250 | Active |
| Executive Member hours | Earlier opening shown on warehouse pages (e.g. Seattle: 9:00 AM weekdays vs 10:00 AM) | Active (hours vary by warehouse) |
| Costco Member Prescription Program | Rx discount program for members, no extra fee; can’t be combined with insurance or Medicare | Active |
| Hearing Aid Center | Free hearing test for members 18+; free service appointments for Costco-bought aids | Active |
| Member-Only Warehouse Savings | Current book valid 10/19/26 to 11/15/26 | Active |
Does Costco have a senior discount?
No. Costco’s pricing model is built around the annual membership fee rather than group discounts at the register. On October 25, 2026, the costco.com Join page and the membership tier page listed only three US options (Gold Star, Business and Executive) with no age-based price, and the Join page listed no senior or military discount. Costco’s help center blocks automated reading, so confirm with customer service if you want it in writing.
Costco also does not show senior shopping hours. The warehouse hours page we checked lists only Executive Member hours, Gold Star and Business Member hours, gas station and pharmacy hours. If your local warehouse does anything special, it will be on that warehouse’s page on costco.com.
Costco membership prices in 2026
Here’s what the costco.com membership page showed on October 25, 2026:
- Gold Star: $65 a year plus applicable sales tax. Includes 2 membership cards, “for you and for someone in your household.”
- Business: $65 a year plus applicable sales tax, with the option to add additional people for $65 each.
- Executive: $130 a year plus applicable sales tax (Costco describes it as an extra $65 on top of the Gold Star fee). Includes the annual 2% Reward.
The free Household Card is a quiet saver for couples: two people in the same household share one fee.
At the time we checked, costco.com also offered new members a $40 Digital Costco Shop Card with Executive or $20 with Gold Star, for new members (or those expired at least 18 months) who enroll in auto renewal with a Visa card. No end date was published.
Is the Executive 2% Reward worth it for retirees?
According to Costco’s Executive Rewards terms, Executive members earn 2% back on qualified Costco, Costco.com and Costco Travel purchases, capped at $1,250 in any 12-month period. The reward is issued roughly three months before your renewal date, in your Renewal Statement.
The math is simple: the upgrade costs $65 more than Gold Star, and 2% of $3,250 is $65. If your household spends more than about $3,250 a year on qualifying purchases, the upgrade pays for itself. Costco states plainly that “the Reward is not guaranteed to be equal to or greater than the Executive upgrade fee paid.”
Purchases that don’t earn the reward, per Costco’s terms, include:
- Gasoline, cigarettes and tobacco, Costco Shop Cards and postage stamps
- Food court purchases, cellphones, phone accessories and service plans
- Membership fees, sales tax, shipping and other fees
- Some alcohol and prescription purchases, depending on state
- Purchases by anyone other than the Primary or Household Cardholder
Executive Member hours: the closest thing to “early senior hours”
Costco warehouse pages now list separate Executive Member hours. At the Seattle warehouse, for example, costco.com showed:
- Executive Members: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM, Sat 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Sun 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Gold Star and Business Members: Mon-Fri 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM, Sat 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM, Sun 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Hours differ by location, so look up your own warehouse on costco.com. The early hour is tied to the Executive tier, not to age.
Pharmacy, hearing aids and optical: what Costco officially offers
Costco Member Prescription Program (CMPP)
Costco’s CMPP FAQ describes it as a prescription discount program, “NOT insurance,” offered at no additional charge as a benefit of a Costco membership. Any Costco member can join; dependents must be under 18 or pets. The key catch for seniors: CMPP can’t be combined with Medicare, Medicaid or other state programs, or with private prescription insurance. You choose one or the other for a given prescription, so compare your Part D copay with the CMPP price before you switch.
Can non-members use Costco Pharmacy? Costco has a help-center article on this, but it blocks automated reading. Older reporting quoting Costco’s FAQ says its pharmacies are open to non-members where required by state law. Call your warehouse pharmacy to confirm.
Costco Hearing Aid Center
The Costco Hearing Aid Center page lists a free hearing test (for members 18 or older, to see whether hearing aids can help) and free service appointments for hearing aids purchased at Costco. Packages were listed as “starting at” $1,599.99, with prices that vary by state, and Costco says they are FSA and HSA eligible. Warranty and trial terms were not listed on that page.
Costco Optical
Costco’s Optical page says independent Doctors of Optometry are located in or next to most warehouses (you book with them or the warehouse directly), and that most major vision insurances are accepted. Contact lenses are described as exclusive to Costco members.
How to save the most at Costco as a senior
- Share one membership. Use the free Household Card for a spouse or a family member at the same address.
- Estimate your spending before choosing Executive: over roughly $3,250 a year in qualifying purchases, the 2% Reward covers the extra $65.
- Check the Member-Only Warehouse Savings. The current book runs from 10/19/26 to 11/15/26. Item limits apply per household and offers can’t be combined with others.
- Compare prescription prices under your Part D plan and under CMPP for each drug, then pick the lower one.
- Get the free hearing test before paying for hearing aids elsewhere.
What Costco does not publish
- An age-based discount, senior day or AARP-style deal (not published as of October 25, 2026).
- Senior-only shopping hours.
- A reduced membership fee for retirees or people on fixed incomes. Amazon and Walmart do run income-based programs (links below).
FAQ
Does Costco give a senior discount?
No. Costco does not list a senior discount on its costco.com membership pages, and the $65 Gold Star and $130 Executive fees are the same at any age.
Does Costco have senior hours?
No senior hours are published. Warehouse pages show earlier Executive Member hours instead, such as 9:00 AM on weekdays at the Seattle warehouse, open to Executive members of any age.
How much is a Costco membership for seniors?
$65 a year for Gold Star or $130 a year for Executive, plus applicable sales tax. Seniors pay the same price as everyone else, and each membership includes a free Household Card.
Can seniors use the Costco pharmacy discount with Medicare?
No. Costco says its Member Prescription Program can’t be combined with Medicare, Medicaid or other state programs; you choose either CMPP or your plan for each prescription.
Is the Costco hearing test free for seniors?
Yes. Costco’s Hearing Aid Center lists a free hearing test for members 18 or older, plus free service appointments for hearing aids bought at Costco.
Related deals
- Costco return policy: the 90-day electronics rule and membership fee refund.
- Amazon Prime Access: 50% off Prime for people on EBT, Medicaid or SSI.
- Walmart+ Assist: discounted Walmart+ with SNAP or Medicaid.
- Silver Cuisine senior meal delivery coupon
- Costco Black Friday deals
- Target military discount
Sources: Costco membership tiers and prices, Join Costco, Executive 2% Reward terms, Executive upgrade benefits, Seattle warehouse hours, Member-Only Warehouse Savings, CMPP FAQ, Costco Hearing Aid Center, Costco Optical (checked October 25, 2026).
CouponVPS is not affiliated with Costco Wholesale. Costco, Gold Star and Executive Membership are trademarks of their owners. Membership fees, rewards, hours and services are set by Costco and may change at any time. Always check costco.com or your local warehouse for current terms.
