August 22nd 2023
By Ari Parker
Medicare flex cards for seniors provide cash-like benefits provided by Medicare Advantage plans. Learn the benefits and how to qualify for one.
By Ari Parker
A Medicare flex card can help pay for over-the-counter medicine, medical supplies, and sometimes even food and transportation to doctor appointments.
These cards are only available through some private Medicare Advantage plans—not through Original Medicare or Medicare Supplement plans (Medigap).
Many Medicare beneficiaries with Medicare Advantage plans have access to flex card benefits but don't use them. In fact, older Americans leave about 30% of their over-the-counter benefits unused each year, adding up to roughly $5 billion in unclaimed benefits.
Depending on your Medicare Advantage plan, you could be missing out on $400-1,000 of extra benefits annually.
Want to find out if a Medicare flex card will work for you? Let's go through the basics, including how a Medicare flex card works, what benefits they can offer and how to get one.
Flex cards allow Medicare Advantage beneficiaries to access cash-like benefits, including over-the-counter, grocery, and meal benefits.
Not all Medicare Advantage plans offer flex spending cards.
Flex card benefits often go unused due to confusion around how to use them.
Benefits vary widely - from quarterly allowances of $50 for over-the-counter items to annual amounts of $1,000+ for comprehensive wellness needs.
A flex card is a prepaid debit card that gives you access to benefits through your Medicare Advantage insurance plan. This card is separate from your Medicare card and plan ID card. You can use it to pay for health and wellness needs like over-the-counter medications and supplies. Some plans also offer benefits for groceries and prepared meals. These benefits can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs for everyday health and wellness expenses.
Medicare flex cards are only available through specific Medicare Advantage plans. They're not included as part of Original Medicare or Medicare Supplement insurance plans. In 2025, 73% of Medicare Advantage plans will offer some form of OTC benefits, redeemable on the Chapter OTC app, which can include flex cards and OTC cards. This means fewer plans are offering over-the-counter benefits in 2025 vs 2024, when 85% of plans offered these benefits.
Note that some Medicare Advantage plans with flex card benefits are only available to people who have chronic illnesses or who are dual eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan when you first enroll in Medicare, during the annual Open Enrollment Period (October 15-December 7), or during qualifying Special Enrollment Periods. You must be enrolled in Original Medicare to be eligible for Medicare Advantage.
Your flex card benefits depend on your specific insurance plan. The most common flex card benefit covers over-the-counter items like medications, dental supplies, mobility aids, and first-aid supplies.
Your plan determines both the coverage and payment structure. Common arrangements include:
Quarterly allowances (like $50 every three months) for over-the-counter items
Annual amounts for specific needs (such as vision care)
Monthly allowances for groceries or meal delivery
Some health insurance plans may offer additional benefits available through your debit card, such as coverage for dental and vision copays.
To use your benefits card, you'll typically need to visit qualifying providers within your plan's network. Plan benefits vary by insurance provider, so check exactly what your flex card covers and when benefits expire. Unused quarterly allowances typically don't roll over.
Some Medicare Advantage plans, in particular, Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) and Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), offer enhanced flex card benefits for people with special needs. These special plans may provide higher allowances or additional coverage for specific health management needs.
Plan benefits vary by insurance provider so be sure to check exactly what your flex card covers.
While private insurance companies offer flex card benefits to Medicare beneficiaries, many enrollees find these benefits challenging to use.
Common reasons people don't use their benefits card include:
Uncertainty about where they can shop and what items are covered
Concern about having their card declined at checkout
Difficulty tracking when benefits expire
Limited access to in-network stores and pharmacy locations
Questions about pricing compared to regular retail stores
For example, if you prefer shopping at stores that aren't in your plan's network, you'll need to switch to approved locations to use your healthcare benefits. Otherwise, you'll have to pay out of pocket at your preferred store while leaving your flex card benefits unused.
While choosing a Medicare plan with flex card benefits can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs, it's important to prioritize your core healthcare needs when you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan.
First, verify that the plan covers your regular medical expenses, medications, and preferred doctors and hospitals. Added benefits, like flex cards and Medicare giveback programs, can be valuable—but making sure your essential medical needs are covered should come first.
Yes—Medicare flex cards offered through Medicare Advantage plans are completely legitimate benefits. While they provide real value for over-the-counter items, some people find them challenging to use. If you need help understanding your flex card benefits, contact your plan directly or get help from one of our licensed Medicare insurance agents.
Watch out for scams: Medicare Advantage flex cards are legitimate benefits when offered through your Medicare Advantage plan. However, scammers often try to trick people by advertising fake flex cards.
Be wary of unsolicited advertisements or scam phone calls promising "free” flex cards for seniors on Medicare. These scammers often try to get you to visit websites and share your personal information.
When placing orders online, make sure the website is trustworthy. If you’re unsure, do a quick search on the company’s website name. For example, the website listed in the advertisement pictured doesn't have anything on the website itself, and when you search "Seniorbudgetbook.com reviews," nothing appears. This is a red flag.
Remember: You can only get a flex card benefit through a Medicare Advantage plan you're enrolled in. If someone calls offering to "activate" or "upgrade" your flex card, it's likely a scam. No outside company can provide this benefit.
If your Medicare Advantage plan has an over-the-counter, meal, or grocery benefit but you're unsure how to access it:
Contact your insurance carrier directly to get a current list of participating retailers
Ask about online shopping options if available
Request a complete catalog of covered items
Verify your benefit loading dates and expiration periods
Check if you can set up automatic notifications for new allowances
Use the Chapter app to redeem your flex card benefits easily!
If you enrolled in a Medicare plan with a Chapter Medicare agent, our team of Advocates will help you understand your plan benefits and how to use them to ensure you get the most from your Medicare.
