Medicare over-the-counter (OTC) cards are prepaid benefit cards that are available with most Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans. They allow users to buy certain household, health, and wellness products from participating online and in-person retailers.

To get a Medicare OTC card, you must be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that offers this benefit, and you must meet any eligibility criteria set by the plan.

If you’re not sure whether your plan includes benefits for OTC products, check your Evidence of Coverage (EOC) documentation or contact a plan representative.

In this article, we discuss some of the key features of Medicare OTC cards, including how they work and what types of products you can buy.

While the exact benefits of OTC cards may vary from plan to plan, cards from different insurers typically work the same way. The insurer adds funds to an enrollee’s card, which they can use to buy products from a set product list at specific retailers.

Medicare Advantage plans may add funds to OTC cards yearly, quarterly, monthly, or at some other predetermined interval. Whether your funds will roll over into new benefit periods depends on your plan’s specific rules.

Even if they do roll over, they will eventually expire. You can review your policy details to understand exactly how long you have to make purchases.

With this in mind, it can make sense to plan ahead and use your OTC card to buy products you may need in the future (e.g., buying supplies for the winter cold season during the early autumn).

You may also want to set reminders to use your funds before they expire.

You can use a Medicare OTC card to buy a range of household, health, and wellness products. Plans and retailers typically have product catalogs that include all items available for purchase. Some retailers, like CVS, color-code product labels in the store to highlight eligible items.

The specific products available will depend on your plan but may include:

  • pain relievers, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • cold medication
  • vitamins and supplements
  • digestive health products, such as fiber supplements
  • toothbrushes, floss, and other dental supplies
  • first aid supplies
  • foot care
  • sun protections

As an example, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan offers this guide to eligible items under its OTC benefits program. You can also check the Walgreens product catalog for a sense of what products are available.

Many plans allow you to use your card in a variety of environments.

In-store

To use your OTC card in a brick-and-mortar location, you’ll need to be in a participating retail store. Consider checking your plan documentation to learn which retailers accept your plan’s OTC card.

You may wish to look at your plan’s product catalog ahead of time to understand which products are available for purchase. Some stores mark product labels to make this clearer.

Once in the store, the card itself will function much like a prepaid debit card.

Online

Participating retailers often have online portals where Medicare enrollees can create accounts and make purchases. To create an account, you’ll need to have some information on hand, such as your Medicare Advantage member ID card and email address.

Once you’ve created an account, you should be able to use the shop’s portal to check your card’s balance, explore the range of available products, and make purchases.

Over the phone

Some plans allow you to contact a representative by phone to place an order. Operators may be available 7 days per week, and you might not be responsible for shipping costs.

The frequency with which a plan reloads funds on a Medicare OTC card depends on the specific policy. It could be monthly, quarter, or another set benefit period. The amount you’ll have to spend also depends on your policy rules.

Plus, some plans allow funds to roll over into new benefit periods, whereas others do not. It’s important to review your plan’s information to ensure you’re getting the most out of your OTC card and not leaving unused funds to expire.

Medicare OTC cards are prepaid benefits cards that allow users to buy certain health and wellness products from participating retailers.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, there’s a good chance that you have an OTC card. If you’re unsure, contact your plan’s customer service line.

For more information about participating retailers, eligible products, and card balances, contact your Medicare Advantage plan.