Kmart Offers Caregiver Rebates
Kmart has joined an unusual rebate program that reimburses consumers for healthcare products not covered by insurance.
The Caregivers Marketplace targets the 50 million Americans who care for aging or disabled family members or friends. Those caregivers pay an estimated $306 billion, as much as $2,500 a year each, on health-related items for their charges.
“The value of ‘free’ family caregiving [is now] nearly double the amount actually spent on nursing home and homecare services,” said Barbara Poling, vice president and general merchandise manager-drug store for Kmart’s parent company, Sears Holdings Corp., in a statement. “Caregivers Marketplace allows us to provide the growing segment of family caregivers an opportunity to save money on the products they are already buying to meet the needs of their loved ones.”
Consumers can get rebate forms in Kmart stores or online at CareGiversMarketplace.com, then mail it in with receipts for five or more eligible products. Those items include Ensure, Glucerna, Depend, Poise, Huggies, Cottonelle Fresh Folded Wipes, Citrucel, Comfort Personal Cleansing, No-Rinse, and Os-cal.
Applicants get a rebate check via mail in four to six weeks. Rebate checks are expected to average $30. The program is run by retail management firm Hamacher Resource Group. Participating manufacturers fund the rebates.
Caregivers Marketplace has offered rebates online for over two years. Kmart is the first retailer to carry the rebate forms in-store.