How retirees can get the best freebies
Photo by RDNE Stock project | Pexels.com
Everything’s getting pricier — food, healthcare, housing, you name it. Prices are climbing, and wallets are feeling the squeeze.
Thankfully, some things in life are still free — senior discounts on everything from going to the movies to riding the bus are ripe for the taking. We gathered a collection of our favorite retirement-friendly freebies.
Free prescription drugs
Tap into the RxAssist database to find free or low-cost medications from the patient assistance programs of pharmaceutical manufacturers. Not all drugs are included here. Some have eligibility requirements, such as income limits, and usually require that the applicant have no prescription insurance.
Some supermarket chains, including Meijer, Publix, Kroger, Family Fare, Sam’s Club and more, offer select medications for free.
For lower-priced (but not free) meds, Blink Health offers more than 55 medications on its site that are well below standard pharmacy costs — and shipping is always free to all 50 states. You can also compare prices at goodrx.com.
Free college tuition
If you’re still dreaming about going back to school, it’s never too late. Some states require state-supported colleges and universities to waive tuition for older residents, as long as there’s space available in the class.
One example: Virginians age 60 and up can audit up to three classes per term at any of the state’s colleges or universities.
Similarly, at the University System of Maryland (UMD), retirees 60 or older can get their tuition waived at any of the state’s schools for up to three courses per semester.
Bonus: If you apply and receive the UMD’s Golden Identification Card, you will be “eligible for any privileges” (for example, library access or student events).
Free healthcare, eye care
Traditional Medicare offers about 18 services with no out-of-pocket costs, including free yearly wellness exams, seasonal vaccines, colorectal screenings and yearly mammograms.
EyeCare America, a public service program of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, provides free eye exams and up to one year of care for any disease diagnosed during the exam.
This free service is available to anyone age 65 or older who doesn’t have private insurance and hasn’t visited an eye doctor in at least three years.
You must fill out a short survey to see if you qualify for the program. Check EyeCare America for program guidelines.
Free entry to state parks
Several state park systems — among them Maryland, New Hampshire, New York and Texas — offer older adults free admission or free annual passes. (Maryland charges $10 for its Golden Age Pass for people 62 and older.)
Don’t forget about the Senior Pass, available to people 62 and older for admission to all National Parks. It’s not free, but it’s well worth the cost. The Senior Lifetime Pass is valid for life and costs $80. The Senior Annual Pass is valid for one year and costs $20.
Free e-books, audiobooks, music
Project Gutenberg and the University of Pennsylvania’s Online Books Page let you legally download thousands of books that have expired copyrights, including War and Peace, Moby Dick and Little Women.
If you’d rather listen than read, the apps Libby and Hoopla let you access thousands of audiobooks free from your local library. Or listen to classics on digitalbook.io or loyalbooks.com.
More into music? Check out music streaming services, such as Pandora, iHeartRadio and Spotify. All three offer some variation of a free subscription.
Free perks from credit cards
Many of the best travel credit cards come with free rental-car insurance, and some will cover the cost of your vacation if you have to cancel your trip or pay for lost or damaged luggage.
Other credit card perks include free extended warranties, free cellphone replacement and free museum admission. Contact your card issuer to find out about perks.
Free calls to the grandkids
To limit your landline costs or avoid using precious minutes on your mobile phone plan, try using a free calling service such as Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, Viber or FaceTime.
All four allow you to make free calls to other users of these same services, and all can be installed on mobile phones or computers.
Free gym memberships
Staying in shape is one way to live better and longer. Even if you’re 65 or older, staying active can add more than five years to your life, according to a 2025 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
The study found that if everyone age 40 and older moved like the most active seniors — brisk walks, gardening, dancing or light strength training — average life expectancy could increase by 5.3 years.
Some gym memberships are costly, but thankfully, many fitness centers offer discounted or free memberships through health insurers for people age 65 and older. The most well-known one, SilverSneakers, gives eligible seniors access to thousands of gym and fitness center locations nationwide — for free through their Medicare Advantage plan.
Cameron Huddleston contributed to this article.
© 2026 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
