Many seniors in the United States are missing out on a wide range of discounts offered by businesses and the government as they are not fully aware of them. These hidden savings apply to restaurants, telecommunications, pharmacies, airlines, and property tax programs, but many remain underutilized.
Seniors Missing Out on Restaurant and Telecom Discounts
According to WalletGuru, a consumer product and service review site, several restaurants offer discounts to seniors aged 55 to 65 and older. Subway, IHOP, Applebee’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Chick-fil-A, Waffle House, and El Pollo Loco all provide a 10% discount. McDonald’s offers separate discounts on coffee and beverages.
Denny’s, popular among many senior groups, offers a 15% discount and has certain menu items available at special senior prices. To receive these discounts, customers are generally required to be AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) members or at least 55 years old.
Telecommunication companies also provide plans designed for seniors. AT&T offers the Senior Nation Plan for those aged 65 and older, which includes unlimited calls between mobile users, 200 free minutes, and 500 free minutes during nights and weekends, all for $29.99 per month.
T-Mobile provides several senior plans starting at $45 per month, which include unlimited calls, texts, and 50GB of data for users aged 55 and older. Similarly, Verizon offers a senior plan for $62 per month, providing unlimited calls, texts, and 4G data for those aged 55 and above.
Pharmacy and Prescription Savings for Seniors
Major pharmacy chains also offer discounts for seniors. Rite Aid operates the Wellness 65+ Program, offering up to 20% off purchases and free health consultations every Wednesday for customers aged 65 and older.
Walgreens provides senior discounts through its free membership program myWalgreens. Additionally, the RxFreeCard discount card can reduce costs on most medications, including pet prescriptions, helping seniors lower their medical expenses.
For seniors facing high prescription drug costs, joining AARP can be highly beneficial. AARP members can receive up to 61% off FDA-approved prescription medications, making membership valuable for this discount alone.
Travel Discounts and Property Tax Benefits for Seniors
Seniors planning to travel can access discounted airline tickets. Delta, American, and United Airlines all offer ticket discounts for customers aged 65 and older. Discount rates vary by airline, and customers should check each airline’s website for details.
Amazon also offers a discounted Prime membership for seniors who receive Medicaid, EBT, or SNAP benefits, reducing the monthly fee from $14.99 to $6.99.
The California state government offers a Property Tax Postponement (PTP) Program for homeowners aged 62 and older. This allows qualified homeowners to defer property tax payments on their primary residence for the year they apply. Deferred taxes must be repaid later, secured by a lien or separate security agreement for mobile homes.
Eligibility requires an annual household income of $53,574 or less and at least 40% home equity. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. The 2025-2026 fiscal year PTP applications open on October 1, 2025, with details available at www.sco.ca.gov.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
