Medical professionals, including nurses, physicians, and frontline healthcare workers, have access to a variety of freebies, discounts, and promotional offers from companies seeking to show appreciation for their service. These offers span multiple categories, from personal protective equipment (PPE) and professional gear to wellness subscriptions, footwear, and household goods. The availability of these perks has been particularly prominent during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, with many brands establishing specific verification processes to ensure that benefits reach qualified individuals.
The following guide outlines the types of freebies and discounts available, the categories of products offered, and the typical steps required to redeem them, based on information from various promotional lists and brand announcements.
Overview of Available Perks
Companies have structured their appreciation programs to address the specific needs of healthcare workers. Offers generally fall into two main types: free products or services (freebies) and percentage-based discounts on purchases.
- Free Products and Services: These include essential PPE such as N95 masks, face shields, and sanitizer; professional gear like shoes and scrubs; and educational resources such as webinars and training certifications. Some companies also offer free services, such as roadside assistance or premium access to care platforms.
- Discounts: Many retailers offer significant price reductions on clothing, uniforms, shoes, and wellness products. Discount percentages typically range from 15% to 60%, depending on the brand and product category.
Categories of Freebies and Offers
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Hygiene Products
Given the critical need for safety gear, several organizations have focused on donating PPE and hygiene supplies to frontline workers.
- Masks and Face Protection:
- DHAVNI: Offers free masks upon request.
- Preppi: Donates N95 masks to healthcare workers in need. Requests are handled through a donation request form on their website.
- Mask-Match: Provides masks to those who ask.
- Print For the Cure: Provides face shields, mask straps, and door openers.
- Hygiene Supplies:
- Puracy: Secures supplies including soap, sanitizer, and other hygiene products for frontline workers, hospital staff, and nursing homes. Requests are made via a donation form.
Footwear
Comfortable footwear is a high priority for medical professionals who spend long hours on their feet. Several brands have offered free shoes or substantial discounts.
- Free Shoes:
- FJOLK: Offers a free pair of shoes to healthcare workers. Interested individuals should email
[email protected]to request a pair. - Crocs: The company has donated 10,000 shoes per day to healthcare workers. This offer was subject to daily limits and specific time windows (e.g., going to the website by 12 p.m.).
- FJOLK: Offers a free pair of shoes to healthcare workers. Interested individuals should email
- Shoe Discounts:
- Nike: Nurses and healthcare workers can receive a 20% discount on select Nike products. Verification of healthcare worker status is required through SheerID.
- Merrell: Offers a 20% discount to healthcare professionals, requiring status verification on their webpage.
- Asics: Medical professionals and first responders can receive 60% off all full-priced products in the Asics online store. Registration and following specific directions on their webpage are required.
Clothing and Uniforms
Workwear brands frequently offer discounts to help medical professionals save on durable clothing and scrubs.
- Discounts:
- Carhartt: Offers a 25% discount on workwear to healthcare professionals, including nurses. Eligibility verification is handled on the Carhartt website.
- Under Armour: Offers a 20% discount for first responders and healthcare workers.
- Levi's: The "Our Heroes" program provides a 15% discount for first responders and medical professionals.
- Lululemon: Offers a 15% discount for military members and first responders.
- Medelita: Offers 30% off scrubs.
- Vineyard Vines: Medical workers receive 50% off their orders. A professional ID is required, and approval takes one to two hours to receive the discount code.
Wellness and Mental Health
Recognizing the stress of healthcare work, several companies offer free or discounted access to wellness tools and mental health resources.
- Subscriptions and Apps:
- Headspace: The mindfulness and meditation app offers free subscriptions for all healthcare professionals working in public health settings. The subscription is valid for the year, and verification via a National Provider Identifier or other professional ID is required.
- Care.com: Frontline workers receive one month of free premium access to services for kids, aging parents, and pets.
- Health Products:
- chiliPAD: Healthcare workers could receive a new chiliPAD, a temperature-controlled mattress pad, through May 31 (while supplies lasted).
- Malouf: Offers a 35% discount on anything on the Malouf website to healthcare professionals. Requesting the discount requires filling out information on a provided link.
Professional Development and Education
Several organizations have provided free educational content to support nurses during the pandemic.
- Webinars and Training:
- American Nurses Association (ANA): Offered a free 68-minute webinar for RNs titled "Be Confident Protecting Yourself and Providing the Best Care to Your Patients During this COVID-19 Pandemic."
- Intelycare: Offers a 100% free COVID-19 Nurse Training Certification for nursing professionals. Upon completion, participants receive one free contact hour.
- Credits:
- Orbit CME: Offered a $100 credit for Continuing Medical Education.
Other Services and Miscellaneous Offers
A variety of other services and products are available, ranging from insurance to pet food.
- Services:
- AAA: Offers free Roadside Assistance services to healthcare workers. Services may not be available in every state.
- CareRev: Offers a referral program where users can earn up to $250 for every healthcare professional they refer.
- Pet Products:
- Ollie: First responders and medical professionals get 50% off three boxes of Ollie dog food. Verification is handled via ID.me at checkout.
- Household and Lifestyle:
- Owala: Offers 50% off water bottles for first responders, government workers, and medical professionals.
- LinkBuildingHQ: Offers a 15% discount on marketing services for frontline workers using the coupon code
Covid15-LBUS. - Nursemates: Sign up to get 15% off purchases, including masks.
- Adni: Healthcare professionals can earn 50 rewards points in the Adni app with an exclusive code from CareRev.
How to Access and Redeem Offers
Accessing these freebies and discounts typically involves specific verification steps to confirm professional status. The methods vary by brand but generally fall into three categories:
- Direct Requests: Some freebies, such as the FJOLK shoes or DHAVNI masks, require sending a direct email or filling out a specific request form. For PPE donations like those from Preppi or Puracy, medical facilities or individuals must submit a donation request form.
- Third-Party Verification: Many brands use third-party identity verification services to confirm eligibility. Common platforms mentioned include:
- SheerID: Used by Nike to verify healthcare worker status for their discount.
- ID.me: Used by Ollie to apply the discount automatically at checkout.
- Professional Verification: Some companies, such as Headspace and Vineyard Vines, require specific professional identifiers like a National Provider Identifier (NPI) or a professional ID card.
- Coupon Codes and Sign-Ups: Certain discounts are unlocked by signing up for a brand's newsletter or using a specific coupon code at checkout. For example, LinkBuildingHQ requires the code
Covid15-LBUS, and Nursemates requires signing up to receive the discount.
It is important for medical professionals to check the specific terms and conditions on each brand's official website. Many offers, particularly those related to PPE or limited-time freebies, are available only while supplies last or for a specific time period.
Conclusion
Medical professionals have a wide array of freebies and discounts available to them, acknowledging their critical role in society. These offers range from essential safety gear like N95 masks and face shields to lifestyle products such as discounted shoes, clothing, and wellness app subscriptions. Accessing these benefits generally requires verification of professional status through methods such as third-party verification services (SheerID, ID.me), submission of professional identification, or filling out specific request forms on brand websites. While many offers were established during the COVID-19 pandemic, some have continued or evolved into ongoing appreciation programs.