Medicare
Flex Card
Medicare Flex Cards are a new benefit offered by some Medicare plans in some areas. Learn more about how this benefit works and how to find out if you can get a flex card.
What is a Medicare Flex Card?
A flex card is a prepaid credit or debit card provided by an insurance plan for use on certain health-related costs. This is a relatively new benefit to be offered and it is only available in a limited number of Medicare Advantage plans from some private carriers.
Flex cards are not available through Original Medicare.
Flex Cards vs. OTC Cards
While flex cards are a new and relatively limited benefit, over-the-counter (OTC) benefits and cards are more prevalent. OTC benefits, also available through Medicare Advantage plans, provide a certain amount of money to spend on products at your local drugstore or to buy those same products at your local grocery store. Note: OTC cards typically do not pay for groceries or food.
Common items covered by OTC cards include:
- Band-aids and bandages
- First aid items
- Cough medicine
- Pain relievers and fever reducers
- Orthopedic support
- Eye drops
- And more!
Any cards you may see advertised as covering groceries, home internet, or other unique benefits are likely to be available only through a select few Medicare plans and in limited areas. These are different than OTC benefits and they are not available through Original Medicare.
What does a Flex Card Cover?
The approved uses of a flex card depend on the terms of your exact Medicare Advantage plan, but in many cases they are designed to cover out-of-pocket costs related to vision, dental, or hearing care.
How do I get a Flex Card?
You can only receive a flex card if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that offers this specific benefit. You can research online to find those plans or speak with a licensed insurance agent who can check for flex card benefits available in your area.
Keep in mind that flex cards are only available in a small number of Medicare Advantage plans and enrollment in MA plans is limited to certain times of the year or special circumstances.
Are Flex Cards a Scam?
Flex cards are a real benefit offered in Medicare Advantage plans by real insurance companies. However, many advertisements about flex cards contain misleading information. Flex cards are a new and very limited benefit, so most Medicare beneficiaries will not be able to get them.
This benefit should be one small piece of your approach to healthcare – the premiums and overall benefits of a plan may matter more to you than a few hundred dollars that may be available through a flex card.
Enrollment Eligibility
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs each year from October 15 to December 7. What is the Annual Enrollment Period vs. Open Enrollment Period?
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
Your Initial Enrollment Period generally surrounds your 65th birthday but may occur if you otherwise become eligible for Medicare for the first time.
Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
You may be eligible if you experience a qualifying life event such as moving to a new zip code, losing employer coverage, or change in Medicaid status.
Further Reading:
e-TeleQuote Insurance Inc. (“e-TeleQuote”) does business as easyMed Insurance Services in all states other than New Mexico. e-TeleQuote is a duly licensed insurance agency appointed by Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS plans and stand-alone prescription drug plans and insurance companies holding Medicare contracts approved by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). e-TeleQuote is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Federal Medicare Program. Enrollment in any plan for coverage is subject to insurance company approval. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. By using e-TeleQuote’s easyMedicare website, you understand and agree that in New Mexico, we operate as e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc. (Your IP address and/or location coordinates may be gathered to verify your location.) Sales agents may be compensated based on your enrollment in a health plan. Medicare Supplement plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Federal Medicare program. e-TeleQuote complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. easyMedicare.com is a non-government site, powered by e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc. e-TeleQuote provides a secure way to purchase Medicare insurance from the comfort of your home or workplace. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-Medicare (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours day/7 days a week, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), to get information on all of your options. Not all plans offer all of these benefits. Benefits may vary by carrier and location. Limitations and exclusions may apply. To send a complaint to Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1- 877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week). If your complaint involves a broker or agent, be sure to include the name of the person when filing your grievance.
Last Updated: September 30, 2024
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