How do you use your healthy Benefits card?
You can activate and manage your card by visiting Healthy Benefits+ or by calling the phone number printed on the back of your card.
How to Activate Your Card
- Register online: Go to the Healthy Benefits+ website or download the mobile app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Enter details: Input your name, date of birth, and the 17-digit card number found on the front.
- Call to activate: Alternatively, call the customer service number listed on the card or sticker to activate via automated phone menu.
How to Shop In-Store
- Check eligibility: Use the product scanner feature in the mobile app or check your plan details online to verify which items (such as healthy foods or over-the-counter items) are covered.
- Shop at participating retailers: Go to approved stores (such as Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, or participating regional grocers).
- Checkout: Scan your eligible items, then swipe your card or scan the app barcode at the register when prompted for payment. Your allowances apply instantly.
What can I spend my Healthy Benefits card on?
You can use your Healthy Benefits+ card to buy approved over-the-counter (OTC) health items and healthy grocery staples.
Approved Over-the-Counter (OTC) Items
- Pain relievers and cold medicine
- Vitamins, minerals, and supplements
- First aid supplies like bandages and antibiotic ointment
- Oral care products like toothpaste, toothbrushes, and floss
- Eye drops and contact lens solution
Approved Healthy Groceries
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and seafood
- Dairy products like milk, cheese, and eggs
- Pantry essentials like rice, beans, pasta, and bread
- Water and nutritional drinks
What Is Not Covered
- Alcohol, tobacco, and e-cigarettes
- Candy and junk food (depending on your specific plan)
- Pet food or non-health-related household items (in most standard plans)
Note: Exact eligibility depends on your specific insurance plan and retailer. You can check item eligibility by scanning barcodes using the official Healthy Benefits+ App.
Can I get toilet paper with my OTC card?
Whether you can buy toilet paper with your Over-the-Counter (OTC) card depends entirely on your specific health plan and its approved items list.
Eligibility for Paper Goods
- Plan-dependent: Some expanded Medicare Advantage or supplemental health plans include household essentials like toilet paper, tissues, or paper towels, while others strictly limit spending to medical and health-related OTC products.
- How to check: Review your plan's digital catalog, log in to your benefit provider's app (such as the OTC Network app), or check the approved product list on your insurer's portal.
- In-store scanning: You can often use the barcode scanner feature in your plan's mobile app while standing in the aisle at participating stores like Walmart or Walgreens to see if an item is covered.
Can I withdraw money from my Healthy Benefits card?
No, you cannot withdraw cash or get money out from a Healthy Benefits Plus card.
Card Rules and Restrictions
- No ATM or Cash Access: The card is not accepted at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and cannot be used to obtain cash back at point-of-sale (POS) store registers.
- Not a Standard Debit/Credit Card: The funds on your card are provided by your program sponsor (such as your health insurance plan) for specific, approved uses like over-the-counter items, eligible groceries, or utilities.
- Non-Transferable: The funds are not considered cash and do not belong to you as personal bank funds; they can only be redeemed directly at approved participating retailers or via approved program bill-pay features.
Can I buy ice cream with my Healthy Benefits card?
No, you generally cannot buy ice cream with a Healthy Benefits Plus card, as the program focuses on core nutritious foods and typically excludes treats like ice cream and soda.
What is Covered
- Fresh Produce: Fruits and vegetables.
- Dairy Products: Milk, eggs, cheese, and yogurt.
- Pantry Staples: Grains, meats, seafood, and canned goods.
What is Excluded
- Unhealthy Items: Ice cream, candy, and soda.
- Non-Food Items: Tobacco, alcohol, and standard household goods (unless specified under a separate OTC allowance).
Note: Exact rules depend on your specific insurance plan and state guidelines.
How To Use Healthy Benefits Plus Card
Can I buy soap and shampoo with my OTC card?
Whether you can buy soap and shampoo with an Over-the-Counter (OTC) card depends entirely on your specific insurance provider and plan.
Plan Coverage Details
- Soap: Many Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans cover basic hygiene items like bar soap or body wash, while others restrict purchases strictly to medical products.
- Shampoo: Standard cosmetic shampoos are usually ineligible unless they serve a specific medical purpose, such as a medicated anti-dandruff treatment.
How to Check Your Eligibility
- Check the catalog: Review your plan's approved product list or search the Walgreens OTC Catalog or Walmart OTC Benefit Page.
- Scan items: Use your plan’s mobile app (such as OTC-Anywhere) to scan product barcodes in-store and confirm eligibility.
- Call your provider: Call the phone number listed on the back of your insurance or OTC card to verify what personal care items your specific allowance includes.
What items can I buy at Walmart with my health pay rewards card?
You can buy almost any everyday household item, grocery, or over-the-counter health product at in-store Walmart locations using your My Health Pays rewards card.
Approved Items
- Groceries and food staples (like milk, eggs, fresh produce, meat, and snacks)
- Household essentials (like toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, and paper plates)
- Personal care and baby items (like shampoo, underwear, diapers, and training pull-ups)
- Health and wellness products (like vitamins, first aid supplies, over-the-counter medicine, and pharmacy copays)
Restricted Items
You cannot use the card to buy:
- Alcohol, tobacco, or e-cigarettes
- Firearms and ammunition
- Lottery tickets or gift cards
- Gasoline
- Items at front-of-store vendor counters inside Walmart (like McDonald's, Starbucks, or nail salons)
Note: You must shop inside a physical Walmart store, as the card typically does not work for online orders placed on Walmart.com.
What can I buy at Walmart with an OTC card?
You can use your Over-the-Counter (OTC) benefit card at Walmart to buy eligible health, wellness, and personal care products, as well as select healthy foods depending on your specific insurance plan.
You can check out the Walmart Benefit Program Center to link your card and view eligible options.
✅ Eligible Items
- Medicines & Treatments: Pain relievers, cold and flu medication, allergy relief, and digestive aids.
- First Aid & Medical Devices: Bandages, antiseptic creams, thermometers, and blood pressure monitors.
- Vitamins & Supplements: Multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium, and mineral blends.
- Personal Care: Oral care (toothpaste, toothbrushes), incontinence supplies, and select hygiene items.
- Healthy Foods: Fresh produce, meat, dairy, and pantry staples (only if included in your specific Medicare Advantage or insurer allowance).
⚠️ Excluded Items
- Tobacco and alcohol.
- Cosmetics, standard beauty products, and perfumes.
- General household cleaning supplies or pet food (unless explicitly covered by specialized plan rewards).
💡 Tips for Shopping
- Link your card: Add your OTC card to your digital wallet via the Walmart app or Walmart.com to automatically filter eligible items for pickup or delivery.
- Look for badges: Search for the "Benefits Program Eligible" tag online or scan item barcodes using the Walmart app in-store.
- Check your catalog: Coverage varies by provider (such as Humana, Aetna, or UnitedHealthcare), so always verify with your specific plan's approved list.
Is deodorant OTC approved?
Deodorant is generally not eligible for standard over-the-counter (OTC) or flexible spending benefits.
Why Deodorant is Usually Ineligible
- Cosmetic/Toiletries Classification: Most insurance plans, Medicare Advantage OTC allowances, and standard Benefit Resource (BRI) guidelines classify basic deodorants and antiperspirants as general hygiene or cosmetic toiletries rather than treatments for a specific medical condition.
- Exceptions: Deodorant is rarely covered unless it is a specialized clinical-strength product prescribed by a doctor to treat a specific medical diagnosis (such as severe hyperhidrosis), which usually requires a formal Letter of Medical Necessity or a flexible spending account (FSA) prescription path.
Do Walmart accept a healthy benefits card?
Yes, Walmart accepts Healthy Benefits cards and other supplemental over-the-counter (OTC) benefit cards for eligible in-store and online purchases.
How to Use Your Card at Walmart
- Online or App: Go to your Walmart Account settings, select Wallet, choose Add new payment method, and select Benefit card to enter your card details. You can also select the gift card or benefit card payment option at checkout.
- In-Store: Swipe or scan your card at the register like a standard debit card when purchasing approved items.
- Check Eligibility: Look for the "benefits program eligible" badge on items while browsing on Walmart.com or use the Walmart app to scan item barcodes in-store.
What You Can Buy
- Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and health supplies.
- Personal care items and toiletries.
- Eligible healthy food and grocery staples (depending on your specific insurance plan allowance).