Does an OTC card cover groceries?

Asked by: Mr. Gerhard Kuphal III  |  Last update: July 27, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (63 votes)

You can't typically buy food with an OTC card. A few Medicare Advantage plans may allow you to buy health-related food and drink items like nutritional shakes, protein bars, and meal replacement products. However, OTC benefits are different from one plan to another and don't usually let you buy food products.

What groceries can you buy with an OTC card?

Examples of approved food items are fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy, rice, pasta, beans, and much more.

What does an OTC card not cover?

What does the OTC card not cover? A Medicare plan with an OTC allowance typically does not cover prescription medications, alcohol, tobacco products, cosmetics or items for general household use. Additionally, it usually cannot be used to purchase gift cards or pay for services such as doctor visits and lab tests.

Can I use my OTC card at Walmart for food?

OTC Food Benefit Card

You can use this card at the following participating retailers: CVS, Walgreens, Family Dollar, Dollar General, and Walmart. You will a receive gray colored OTC card, similar to the example shown, with a maximum $20 monthly limit for purchasing the approved food items items.

How to use UCard for groceries?

At checkout, there are 2 ways to use your UCard:
  1. Simply swipe your card or scan the barcode.
  2. Scan your digital UCard barcode in the UnitedHealthcare app (available at most store locations)

I used my United Healthcare Ucard to purchase groceries| Family of two grocery haul 2023 #otc

40 related questions found

Can I buy laundry detergent with my OTC card?

Use your $25 a month to get items like baby wipes, allergy products, pain relief medicine and more. You can also get everyday items like laundry detergent, soap and toothbrushes.

Is toilet paper covered by an OTC card?

OTC items are not eligible if they are normally used for general health, are not used to treat a medical condition (e.g. lotion, shampoo (except for products used to treat dandruff), toilet paper, lip balm) or are cosmetic in nature (e.g. teeth whitening products, wrinkle reducers).

What does the OTC card pay for?

OTC card eligible items often include health and wellness products, such as cough and cold remedies, vitamins, medical equipment and more. If an item is eligible, the cost of the item is subtracted from an OTC card's available balance at checkout.

Can you buy groceries with a healthy benefits card?

Healthy benefits are increasingly being made available through health care providers, technology companies, employers, government agencies, and more. Many of these distributors offer benefits through cards that function like prepaid debit cards, allowing purchases of select grocery items or wellness products.

What can you get off a OTC card?

What is covered under your OTC allowance? Eligible products include OTC remedies or medicines to alleviate or treat illness or injury, dental care products, eye and ear care products, and incontinence supplies (adult diapers). These products do not require a prescription from a health care provider.

What can I buy with my UCard at Walmart?

Use your benefit credit on your UCard to buy covered OTC products, like:
  • Braces and supports.
  • Dental and oral care.
  • Diabetes care.
  • Eye and ear care.
  • First aid.
  • Foot care.
  • Incontinence products.
  • Pain relief.

How much do I have left on my OTC card?

How do I check the balance on my OTC card? Once your card is activated, you should learn how to check your account details. You'll especially need to check your balance and the amount you've used. Most cards have a toll-free number listed on the back of the card, which you can call to find out.

Why won't my healthy Benefits card work at Walmart?

The benefits card has been used before the 24-hour waiting period after activation is over. The participant has insufficient funds in the benefit account to cover the expense. Non-eligible expenses have been included at the point of sale. (Retry the transaction with the eligible expense only.)

Can you buy pet food with an OTC card?

Items that do not qualify include non-food and pet items, alcohol, baby formula, candy, chips, coffee shop items, desserts, fresh baked goods, soda, and tobacco.

Can you use OTC card at self checkout?

Yes, you can use your card at self-checkout in store.

Can I use my OTC card to buy food?

Food & OTC Benefit Cards Accepted In-store

Shop eligible groceries and over-the-counter medications using your benefits card.

What household items can I buy with my OTC card?

Eligible items include:
  • Nicotine replacement therapy items.
  • Band aids and first aid supplies.
  • Food scales.
  • Oral hygiene care products.
  • OTC antibiotic creams/ointments.
  • OTC antihistamines and allergy sprays.
  • OTC cold/cough/flu drugs.
  • OTC pain relievers.

How often do I get money on my OTC card?

A quarterly OTC spending allowance is pre-loaded to your Benefits Prepaid Card on the first day of each quarter. Unused amounts rollover to the next quarter but must be used by the end of the calendar year.

How does the OTC card work at Walmart?

How do I use my OTC Network card on Walmart.com? You can create a Walmart.com account and add your OTC Network card to your wallet or enter your OTC Network card as a payment method during check-out.

Is deodorant OTC approved?

Anti-perspirants/Deodorants

The anti-perspirant component still requires an approved aluminum compound as the active ingredient. Because of this, all anti-perspirant/deodorant products are considered OTC drugs and are regulated by the FDA.

Can I use my OTC card on Amazon?

Can I use my card to purchase OTC items online from websites like Amazon? You can only purchase OTC items online from the NationsBenefits website.

What can I not buy with my OTC card?

OTC items are not eligible for reimbursement if they are normally used for general health, are not used to treat a medical condition (e.g. toothpaste, mouthwash, lotion, shampoo) or are cosmetic in nature (e.g. teeth whitening products, wrinkle reducers). See additional examples in the OTC Chart.

What is the OTC allowance?

The OTC allowance benefit can be used to buy eligible non-prescription items, plus health and wellness items. There are 2 types of OTC allowance benefits: OTC Mail Order or OTC Allowance.

What can I buy at Dollar General with my U card?

Dollar General customers can now purchase food, produce, over-the-counter medicines and additional wellness products in more than 20,000 stores across the country using health supplemental benefits.