You may have already encountered OTC medication at the local pharmacy, and despite it being extremely important to the well-being of a lot of Americans, you probably still don’t know what it is.
Over-the-counter drug cards are given out through the Medicare Advantage plans as a way to help patients overcome the massive expense some of these medications can bear.
At times, they’re also referred to as nonprescription medications as you won’t need a prescription from a doctor to purchase them.
However, not every Medicare plan offers this opportunity, and every Medicare Advantage service may work in a different way.
We’ll go over the basics of what an OTC card is and how you can get one, as well as the requirements you’ll have to meet to do so, so keep on reading.
What are OTC cards?
OTC cards are prepaid cards that you can use to purchase over-the-counter medicines at participating stores, made possible through the Medicare program’s Advantage plans.
Of course, the medication you’ll be able to buy will depend on both your insurance plan and provider, although you’ll commonly be able to get ointments, cold medication, flu medication, orthopedic support, pain killers, and antibiotics at most participating stores.
Your Medicare provider will deposit funds into the OTC card every month, with the total amount depending on the terms you’ve agreed to upon signing for your healthcare plan.
The main benefit of being an OTC card user is that most bigger stores will accept it, so long as they actually sell OTC products.
This means that you’ll have more money to spend on other necessities, making budgeting much easier if you’re already working with a below-average income.
What amount can you receive?
Your plan will be what dictates exactly how much will be deposited onto your OTC card every month, and if you’re looking to get the most out of it, your best bet would be to first examine all of your options before choosing a healthcare provider.
There are dozens of online tools you can use to evaluate all of the options available to you, and this may be able to help you choose the plan that best fits your needs and circumstances.
Your provider will also be responsible for determining where and how you can use the OTC card, and before finalizing the contract, you may want to confirm all of the qualifying stores that participate in their program.
Usually, you can use your card at a number of stores across the US, including Walmart, CVS, Target, Walgreens, and more, but it’s always good to check in with your healthcare provider just to be sure.
How to apply
Applying for an OTC card is something that also depends on the type of healthcare plan you chose, and if you’ve signed up for a plan that already includes OTC benefits, you’ll be receiving the card upon completion of all the paperwork.
On the other hand, if your plan doesn’t include an OTC card, you’ll have to apply for it separately, and your healthcare provider will give you a deeper insight into how you can do that without encountering too many hurdles along the way.
Some providers may also direct you to a website where you’ll find all of the eligible products as well as where you can buy each of them.
If you wish to find out more, the best way to get more information would be to contact your local Medicare Advantage insurance plan provider’s office.
Medicare
If you’re not already familiar with it, Medicare is a government healthcare assistance program, and Original Medicare is available to anyone over the age of 65 with a qualifying disability or illness that hinders them.
This insurance will cover hospital stay fees, nursing facilities, and many more, whereas the second part of Original Medicare covers doctor services, medical supplies, and outpatient treatment that you may receive.
However, people often overlook that Medicare also has Parts C and D, with C being the Advantage plans, such as the OTC card program.
Part D refers to prescription medicine coverage, and it also includes coverage for the fees of a number of vaccines and shots recommended by doctors.
OTC card perks
Similar to how an EBT card works, the OTC card can also only be used for qualifying products, and attempting to use it to purchase something else could result in you losing access to the funds on the OTC card.
If you’re unsure how much money you’ve got left on your OTC card, you can check your available balance on the plan provider’s website, although you could also just call the phone number written on the back of the card.
While unused balance does tend to carry over into the next month, not all plans utilize this feature, and you’ll want to check with your provider before letting all of this free money go to waste.
Final word
OTC cards are a great benefit for low-income families struggling to make ends meet, and without access to medicine, their life would be much harder.
However, with accessible medicine and remedies, these individuals and families can instead focus on improving the other aspects of their lives without worrying too much about the medication they have to take.
If not for this, the plan makes purchasing OTC drugs much easier and removes the chance of you not having enough of the medication you need.