Costco has special priority access to their warehouse for seniors, medical professionals and first responders. This has started since the Covid-19 times and it is a temporary change. Costco is closely monitoring the situations, and this can be changed at anytime.
- Seniors are considered 60 years old and over, this also includes disabled or people with immunocompromised conditions.
- Medical professionals includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and all hospital staff with a badge.
- Some of the First Responders includes paramedics, firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians.
Does Costco Have Special Hours for Seniors?
Costco has special hours for seniors typically 8 am to 9 am or 9 am to 10 am, Monday through Friday but that may vary depending on locations. See the table below for local differences.
It used to be the case that Costco just offered the same business hours for everyone. But then the COVID 19 pandemic hit the world. In order to protect the elderly, the disabled, and the people who are immunocompromised from unnecessary exposure to the COVID 19 virus, Costco has been offering special hours for seniors since March 2020.
During the special hours, only those who are 60 or older, those who are disabled, or those who are immunocompromised are allowed to shop at the Costco warehouses. Others will not be admitted.
You can look up the exact special hours of your local Costco online. The following table summarizes all the information you need.
Costco Special Hours for Seniors
| Locations | Hours | Days |
| Nationwide – except listed below | 9 am to 10 am | Mon-Fri |
| Culver City, CA | 8 am to 9 am | Mon-Fri |
| Los Angeles, CA | 9 am to 10 am | 7 days a week |
| Iwilei (Honolulu), HI | 8 am to 9 am | Mon-Fri |
| Massachusetts | 8:30 am to 9:30 am | 7 days a week |
| Teterboro, NJ | 8 am to 9 am | Mon-Fri |
| Brooklyn, NY | 8 am to 9 am | Mon-Fri |
| Staten Island, NY | 8 am to 9 am | Mon-Fri |
| Westbury, NY | 8 am to 9 am | Mon-Fri |
| Oregon | 8:30 am to 9:30 am | Mon-Fri |
- California Bay Area (8 am to 9 am, Monday through Friday) – Great Oaks, Hayward, NE San Jose, Richmond
- California Bay Area (8:30 am to 9:30 am, Monday through Friday) – Almaden, Cal Expo, Danville, El Camino, Folsom, Fremont, Livermore, Modesto, Redwood City, Reno, Richmond, Sacramento, Salinas, San Francisco, San Leandro, Santa Cruz, South San Francisco, Sunnyvale
- California Bay Area (9 am to 10 am, Monday through Friday) – Antioch, Carson City, Chico, Citrus Heights, Clovis, Elk Grove, Eureka, Fairfield, Foster City, Fresno, Gilroy, Hanford, Lodi, Manteca, Merced, Mountain View, North Fresno, Novato, Rancho Cordova, Rohnert Park, Redding, Roseville, San Jose, Sandcity, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, Sparks, Stockton, Tracy, Turlock, Ukiah, Vacaville, Vallejo, Visalia, Woodland
The special hours are subject to change. You can find the latest information on Costco’s website here.
Does Costco Have Special Hours for Healthcare Workers?
Costco has special hours for healthcare workers including pharmacists to shop there during its special hours for seniors, typically 9 am to 10 am Monday through Friday but that may vary depending on locations. See the table above for local differences.
The only exception to this special hours policy is in Massachusetts – the Massachusetts Boards of Health have instructed all Massachusetts locations that healthcare workers are not allowed to enter during Senior Shopping Hours.
In addition to special hours, Costco is also offering “priority access” to their warehouses during all open hours for Costco members who are healthcare workers. What that means is that healthcare workers do not have to wait in line to get into Costco. If you are a healthcare worker, just show your Costco membership card and an official ID of your role in healthcare at the entrance, and you will be allowed to move to the front of any line to enter the warehouse.
Any healthcare workers including pharmacists and all hospital employees with a hospital ID will be able to take advantage of this priority access policy.
Does Costco Have Special Hours for First Responders?
Costco is allowing first responders like paramedics, firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians. It is typically 9 am to 10 am Monday through Friday, but that may vary depending on locations. See the table above for local differences.
The only exception to this special hours policy is in Massachusetts – the Massachusetts Boards of Health have instructed all Massachusetts locations that first responders are not allowed to enter during Senior Shopping Hours.
In addition to special hours, Costco is also offering “priority access” to their warehouses during all open hours for Costco members who are first responders. What that means is that first responders do not have to wait in line to get into Costco. If you are a first responder, just show your Costco membership card and an official ID of your role at the entrance, and you will be allowed to move to the front of any line to enter the warehouse.
Any first responders including police officers, EMTs, and firefighters will be able to take advantage of this priority access policy.
Does Costco Have Special Hours for Executive Members?
Costco does not offer special hours for Executive members. Back in 2011, Costco used to offer special hours for Executive members. Back then Executive members can get into Costco 1 hour earlier than regular (Gold Star) members. Not anymore. Now, both Executive and regular members have the exact same hours.
This is not to say Executive memberships do not offer any perks over regular memberships. With an Executive membership, you get 2% rewards on qualifying purchases at Costco, Costco.com, and Costco Travel. You also get other benefits such as lower prices on check printing, auto buying, roadside assistance included at no charge for vehicles covered through the Costco Auto Insurance program, additional travel benefits, and a free monthly edition of The Costco Connection magazine.
A Costco Executive membership costs an annual $60 upgrade fee on top of the annual $60 regular membership fee. As long as you buy more than $3,000 worth of goods and services at Costco in a year, your 2% Reward will be more than enough to cover the cost of the $60 upgrade fee of your Executive membership.
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