What Is a Medicare Flex Card?
Key Takeaways
- Some Medicare Advantage plans offer flex cards, which work like debit cards with a preloaded amount to cover approved health-related expenses, such as copays and over-the-counter medications.
- Flex cards are loaded with a set amount of money with potential monthly, quarterly, or annual limits. Unused funds might expire, though some plans may allow rollover.
- Medicare Advantage plans that offer flex cards differ in how that card is managed, including the amount, covered items, where the card can be used, and how often funds are reloaded.
- Medicare flex cards are only offered through private Medicare Advantage plans, not the federal government. Beware of scams falsely promising free government-issued flex cards or lifetime benefits.
Some Medicare Advantage plans offer Medicare flex cards, which operate like debit cards. You can use this preloaded spending card to help pay for approved health expenses, like copays or over-the-counter medication. Benefits differ by plan, but we’ll review how Medicare Advantage flex cards work and what they typically cover.
Medicare Advantage At a Glance
If you have Medicare Part A and Part B, you can enroll in a private insurance plan sold by a Medicare-approved insurance carrier. Known as Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Part C, these plans have doubled in popularity over the past 15 years. In 2024, 54% of Medicare-eligible adults enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare Advantage plans must cover everything in Medicare Part A and Part B. Because these plans are sold by private insurance companies, they may limit your care to their preferred providers or locations, and they can set their own costs for certain services. Medicare Advantage plans also typically bundle extra coverage, like prescription drugs, dental, vision, and hearing care. Some plans go further and feature perks like flex cards.
How Medicare Flex Cards Work
A Medicare flex card is like an allowance. If it’s included in your plan, your Medicare Advantage plan will load a predetermined amount of money onto the card. When you receive the card, you may need to activate it and set up a PIN online or over the phone. You can then use the flex card to pay for approved services and items from participating locations.
Flex cards typically allow cardholders to spend $250 to $1,500 per year. Cards may also have monthly, quarterly, or annual maximums, and the money might expire if you do not use it in time, though some Medicare Advantage plans may allow unused funds to roll over until the end of the year.
Keep in mind that not all insurance companies or plans offer this benefit. Also, while flex cards can be a nice perk, they are not ideal for everyone, and they should not take priority over your other healthcare needs.
What Do Medicare Advantage Flex Cards Cover?
Medicare flex cards commonly cover the following:
- Healthy groceries
- Eyeglasses
- Copays for prescription drugs
- Out-of-pocket expenses for dental, vision, and hearing care
- Over-the-counter medications
However, it is important to remember that since flex cards are offered by private insurance carriers, coverage varies by plan and location.
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Are All Flex Cards the Same?
No, Medicare flex cards vary significantly in their benefits and terms. Take the following factors into consideration.
- Amount on card: Your insurance carrier determines how much money your card will have, and whether the amount rolls over each month.
- Cadence of card refill: Cards may be reloaded monthly, quarterly, or annually.
- Items covered: Flex cards only cover an approved list of items and services, and each category might have its own allowance.
- Retailers covered: Private insurers can limit where you use your flex card. Some might only allow you to cover over-the-counter medicine from a specific store, for example.
It’s important to read the fine print before using your flex card. If you have any questions, reach out to your insurance company for clarification.
See It In Action
To understand how flex cards work, let’s look at an example. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan with a flex card perk, your card is preloaded with a set amount. Consider a plan where your flex card has $500 for the year.
During the year, you may decide to purchase a $20 bottle of non-prescription allergy medication. If your plan lists over-the-counter medication as an eligible flex card expense, you may use your flex card at checkout to pay for that medicine. After that transaction, you would still have $480 on the card for other eligible purchases throughout the year.
Beware of Flex Card Scams
If you receive a call from someone claiming to offer Medicare flex cards directly from the government, be wary. Flex cards are only available through private Medicare Advantage insurance carriers, so if you enroll in a plan that offers a flex card benefit, you are enrolling in a private Medicare Advantage plan.
You might also see misleading advertisements, like a recent Facebook post scam that falsely claimed you can get free groceries for life through Medicare. To reiterate, the federal Medicare program does not offer flex cards. The “for life” claim should also raise suspicion. Generally, if something sounds too good to be true, be cautious.
Putting It All Together
Some private Medicare Advantage plans feature Medicare over-the-counter cards, which come loaded with an allowance. You can use this debit card to pay for approved out-of-pocket expenses, like your copays and general items like bandages and reading glasses. However, flex cards should be a perk of your health coverage plan, not a priority. If you need help choosing a Medicare plan for your needs, work with a licensed insurance agent to get more information and guidance.
Sources
10 Reasons Why Medicare Advantage Enrollment is Growing and Why It Matters. KFF.
What Is the Flex Card for Medicare? National Council on Aging.
False claim of free groceries for life under new Medicare supplement. USA Today.
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