If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan with one of these four companies, this post will serve as a reminder of your quarterly over-the-counter benefit.
You are allotted a given cash value that you are able to use to purchase over-the-counter items each quarter of the year. This allotment expires and resets each quarter, meaning that it is important to take advantage of it while you can.
What kind of items can be purchased or redeemed through the catalog?
In general, the OTC catalogs contain a large variety of, well, over-the-counter items. These are items you can find in your pharmacy with a medical purpose that you likely already purchase for daily life. Nearly anyone can find something useful in these catalogs. Product categories include adult care, allergy relief, baby care, cold remedies, digestive health, ear and eye care, feminine care, first aid, foot care, home diagnostics, home healthcare, nicotine replacement, oral care, pain relievers, and more.
Please scroll to the section specific to your insurance company.
Blue Cross of Idaho:
According to Blue Cross of Idaho, the best way to order at any time is through the website www.bcidaho.com/otc. You will be prompted to create an account, after which you can access the catalog and order. You can also order by phone between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, at 1-888-628-2770. You will want your ID and order ready before calling. The catalog can be found as a PDF at https://medicare.bcidaho.com/resources/pdfs/16/16-876-2021-MA-OTC-Catalog.pdf.
United Healthcare:
The most useful resource available to you for learning about this benefit is the Healthy Benefits website, which can be found at www.healthybenefitsplus.com/hwp. Your credit can be used to purchase any Medicare-approved over-the-counter products. United Healthcare has partnered with Walmart to provide these items, meaning that you can shop for them online on the healthy benefits website, by phone, by mail, or even in-store.
On the Healthy Benefits website (www.healthybenefitsplus.com/hwp), you can get started and check your balance. Remember that your balance resets each quarter! Use it before you lose it.
Humana:
The most useful resource available to you for learning about this benefit is the Humana Pharmacy website at https://www.humanapharmacy.com/resources/over-the-counter.cmd. There you can find information about where to find your specific allowance as well as the various methods you can use to order. While ordering online is likely to be easiest for most, mail and fax options are also available.
Molina:
You can access this OTC benefit at MolinaHealthcareOTC.com. Additionally, the catalog can be found as a PDF download at: https://www.molinahealthcare.com/~/media/Molina/PublicWebsite/PDF/members/common/en-US/Medicare/2021-Medicare-OTCCatalog-EN-508.pdf
According to the catalog, “You can order online at MolinaHealthcareOTC.com, mail us your completed OTC Product Order Form, call an OTC Advocate at (866) 420-4010 (TTY: 711), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., EST use our ‘OTC-Anywhere’ mobile app, or use your OTC benefit card at any Walmart store.”
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If you are unsure of how to use your OTC allotment, feel free to call us at Daniel Insurance at (208)918-0201.