Verdict: You need a free Rite-Aid Wellness + rewards card to take advantage of the drug store’s sales so it’s a good card to have if you ever shop at Rite-Aid. Signing up was convenient because the sales clerk issued my card right at the register, and then I went home and signed up online. It is mandatory to provide your phone number when you register online; you can decline this if you sign up in the store. If you ever forget your card, they can look it up by your phone number so you will receive points or sale prices.
For a free store rewards card, the Wellness+ card really offers a lot of diverse benefits for shoppers. It takes some time to read through and discover all the benefits you can receive, but it’s worth it. The basic points program is extremely generous, but there are several “exceptions” that will limit the rewards you can earn.
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Overview: More and more stores are making it mandatory to use rewards card to take advantage of their sales; it’s an easy way to for stores to collect data about their customers’ buying habits. As long as you’re getting good value in exchange for your information, this benefits stores and customers.
The Rite-Aid Wellness + Rewards program is somewhat more complicated than many programs — but also more comprehensive! A bulk of the benefits (aside from sale prices and basic point accrual to earn coupons) are online.
First, let’s look at the basic rewards points program.
How This Card Works: Earn one point for every dollar you spend, plus 25 points on every prescription purchase (regardless of cost of prescription).
Every member starts out as a “plus” member, where you earn a one-time, 10% off shopping pass for every 125 points you earn. Spend $125 (or buy 5 prescriptions, or some combination of the two) and get 10% off for one trip. You’ll receive your coupon via email or regular mail.
When you accrue 500 points, you achieve silver + status and get 10% off all purchases, every day, plus free health screenings.
When you reach 1,000 points, you hit “gold” status and also get 20% off all your non-prescription purchases.
Easily track your points online to see when you’re eligible for your next reward.
This is a very generous program, since you save 20% off every purchase if you spend $1,000 at Rite-Aid in one year. However, there are some limitations that make it less appealing than it seems at first glance. Here are some limitations to be aware of:
- Prescriptions paid for, in part, by Medicare or Medicaid are not eligible for rewards points.
- Points “re-set” at the end of every calendar year, so you have to re-claim your gold status every year with $1,000 in purchases.
- Discounts not valid on sale items; customer receives the lower of the discount price or sale price, but will not receive “double” or “stacked” discounts. (i.e., 10% off plus 10% member savings.)
- Discounts cannot be combined with other offers. (Such as buy one, get one free.)
- Discount not valid on prescriptions, co-pays, cigarettes, alcohol, gift cards, online purchases, lottery tickets, licenses, money orders, money transfers, prepaid cards, or stamps.
Additional Features and Benefits:
- $50 in coupons when you first register online
- Print out all your prescription and wellness purchases for tax purposes
- Gain easy online access to redeem monthly Rite-Aid rebates on select products
- Free membership
- Handy key fob membership card, or have the clerk look up your card by your phone number
- Track your rewards online
- Gain access to all Rite Aid sales
- Points accrue quickly at the rate of 1 point per dollar
- $50 in coupons when you register
- Special bonuses for prescriptions and select allergy products
- Cannot receive discounts on sale items
- Medicare and Medicaid prescription co-pays not eligible for rewards
- Points re-set at the end of the calendar year, so you do not retain your Silver or Gold status from year to year
- Program offers so many benefits and discounts, it’s difficult to remember them all!
Allergy Rewards: There is a “subdivision” of the Wellness + Rewards program, Allergy rewards, that you have to sign up for separately, and you’ll earn additional savings on popular allergy programs. You’ll receive a $20 Rite Aid certificate (good for most purchases) via email for every $75 you spend on over-the-counter Zyrtec and Benadryl allergy products.
The Rite Aid website is actually a wealth of information about health and some of the features are only available to Rite Aid wellness + members. If you’re a health-conscious individual or frequently shop at your neighborhood Rite Aid, this is a card worth having.
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