What is Over the Counter Benefit? Most Medicare Advantage plans offer the Over the Counter Benefit (OTC). The Over the Counter Benefit allows you to purchase everyday personal care and wellness products like vitamins, bandages, diabetes socks, toothpaste, face mask, and other products.
You get a quarterly (3 months) allowance to purchase Over the Counter items by catalog and/or at an assigned pharmacy chain.
Over the Counter Benefit
What is the monthly benefit for OTC?
Benefits vary slightly from insurance plan to insurance plan, but on average benefits allow up to $100 in OTC items every quarter (3 months) for a total yearly benefit of $400. Most Medicare Advantage plans with Over the Counter Benefit (OTC) the amount does roll over from quarter to quarter. Some companies may not offer benefit rollover, this may depend on Medicare Advantage plan, but the typically OTC benefit plan requires patients to pay $0 copays for covered OTC items, medications, and products up to the available benefit limit each insurance quarter. Plans may or may not cover the cost of shipping.
Diabetics use of the OTC Benefit
If you have Diabetes, the Medicare Advantage OTC Benefit can help you get diabetic socks that you can order by phone or go to the assigned pharmacy of your Medicare Advantage plan.
Diabetic Socks offer a number of benefits that are vital to improving the quality of life for a diabetic. Diabetic socks are made of materials that promote dry feet preventing blisters and cuts.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan with OTC Benefits, you can use your quarterly benefit to buy vitamins. Such vitamins as Folic Acid tablets; Vitamin B12; Adult Daily Multiple vitamin; Vitamin D; Vitamin E.
Flu OTC Benefit
Another us of the OTC Benefit is to purchase Cold & Flu medications. Once again if your Medicare Advantage plan allows you to purchase via catalog and place orders over the phone, you can stay home and order Cold & Flu medication.
Another OTC Benefit you can order via catalog or at the assigned pharmacy is Health Monitors. Oximeter is a device that painlessly way to check the amount of oxygen that’s currently being pumped through your blood. Specially if you have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
Stomach Remedies
A high sales OTC item is Antacid Tablets. Antacids are fastest acting heartburn relief available because they start to weaken the acid in your stomach the second they reach it.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a nutrient your body needs for building and maintaining healthy bones. Also regulates many other cellular functions in your body. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties support immune health, muscle function and brain cell activity
Face Masks
Face masks became popular as Covid spread in the US and Worldwide in 2020. You can feel safe from Covid and other air viruses by wearing a face mask. You can order face mask from your OTC Medicare Advantage plan.