Save money with CVS CarePass
CVS CarePass is a paid membership program for $5 per month or $48 per year paid in advance. The main benefit is each month you receive a $10 CarePass promotional reward (discount) that can be used on many items in-store and online. So the net benefit is $6 a month ($72 per year) if you sign up for the annual membership. CarePass also gets you free shipping on many items.
I’m not a huge CVS shopper. I only buy their sale items – in-store. I signed up for CarePass in February 2021 because I was having everything delivered. I’ve been testing it for months and I’ve been able to find deal(s) every month, that I can get shipped to me, and using the $10 monthly reward.
CVS regular online prices are high
However, CVS’s regular prices online are high so every month I wait for and use a 40% off one item coupon. They email a coupon out every Thursday. Some weeks it’s $6 off $30 purchase (20% off), 20% off one item, 30% off one item and then the 40% off. If I didn’t use the 40% off one item coupon then many items aren’t a deal. So as soon as the coupon comes in I click on “Send to card” and add it to my account. Then I go through the weekly sale ad. Depending on what the item is you can apply the 40% off to sale items. That’s generally a great deal.
Be patient and get 40% off one item per month/Beware of CVS coupons
Another drawback to CVS is the way they apply coupons is confounding. My solution is I do not add any coupons to my account except for the $6 off $30 purchase, and the 20%, 30% or 40% off one item. What happens is let’s say you are buying CVS brand nuts. The sale price is $9.99 a can and you have a 40% off coupon. If you have another coupon in your account for say “$2 off an $8 purchase of CVS brand nuts” it will automatically take the $2 off and you will not be able to apply the 40% off coupon! And once a coupon is in your account you can remove it. Maddeningly irritating!
When I start shopping I add the item I want 40% off on to my cart and if another completely different item has a coupon I then add that coupon to my account and check out.
Not all items available online and/or for free shipping
A third drawback is not all items are available online and eligible for free shipping (CarePass eligible item). Many non-CVS brand grocery items are not available for online purchase. You can search for products you may buy that are eligible for free delivery. Just hit the toggle button on the top left to see what’s available.
There are other benefits that you may find useful (see below). For instance my neighbor, who told me about Carepass, gets all their prescriptions delivered for free (plus tip).
Other CarePass Benefits
- Members get free 1 to 2 day delivery for eligible purchases on CVS.com. No minimum order required. Shipping on CVS.com is free when at least one CarePass eligible item is added to an online basket. Look for the CarePass free shipping badge on thousands of items. Non-CarePass members get free shipping on orders of $35+.
- Free 1 to 2 day delivery on qualifying prescription drug orders through USPS.
- A 20% discount on eligible regularly priced CVS Health brand products in store and online. 20% off benefit does not apply to other CVS brands: CVS Pharmacy®, Beauty 360®, CVS®, Gold Emblem®, or Gold Emblem abound.
- Access to a 24/7 pharmacist helpline.
- Membership is limited or unavailable in some states. Exclusions apply. See additional FAQs and full Terms and Conditions for details.
Summary
If you’re a big CVS shopper you’re probably already a member of Carepass. If you use prescription medication the free delivery is a good benefit, assuming their Rx prices are good. If you like to get many small deliveries membership could be worth it. Every month I wait for the 40% off one item coupon to appear and then I can get a good deal. I reviewed all my past orders and there was only one month I didn’t receive one (I used a 30% off one item coupon). I’ll plan to renew because with minimal effort I’m making $72 a year off the deal.
