What free items can you get with Medicaid?

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You can get a wide range of free or discounted medical items, wellness supplies, and daily perks through Medicaid and its managed care plans, though exact offerings vary by state.

💊 Medical and Over-the-Counter Items

  • OTC Allowance: Quarterly or monthly credits ($30–$50) for store items like pain relievers, vitamins, and first-aid supplies.
  • Medical Equipment: Loaned devices like wheelchairs, walkers, and monitors.
  • Maternal Supplies: Free electric breast pumps, lactation support, and baby welcome kits.
  • Asthma/Diabetes Kits: No-cost HEPA filters, blood pressure cuffs, or digital scales provided by select managed care plans.

📱 Technology and Services

  • Cellphones & Plans: Free mobile phones, talk, text, and data through programs linked with Lifeline.
  • Transportation: Free non-emergency medical rides or rideshare credits to get to doctor appointments.
  • Discounted Subscriptions: 50% off monthly rates for programs like Amazon Access.

🏃 Wellness and Extras

  • Fitness Perks: Discounted or fully covered gym and YMCA memberships depending on your specific health plan.
  • Educational Vouchers: Assistance or vouchers for GED testing and school supplies for children.

What free stuff can I get through Medicaid?

Medicaid provides free or low-cost core healthcare, plus many state-specific or managed care extras like over-the-counter allowances, free phone services, and shopping discounts.

Core Healthcare Services

  • Medical Care: Free or very low-cost doctor visits, preventive screenings, hospital stays, and emergency care.
  • Prescriptions: Fully or mostly covered medications prescribed by a doctor.
  • Pregnancy & Baby Care: Free prenatal visits, labor and delivery, breast pumps, and sometimes baby care starter kits or car seats.
  • Transportation: Free Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) to and from covered medical appointments.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) & Wellness Allowances

  • Store Allowances: Many managed Medicaid plans include a quarterly or monthly allowance ($30–$50) to spend on approved health items at participating stores like CVS (cold medicine, vitamins, toothpaste, first-aid).
  • Gym & Fitness: Discounted or free fitness memberships, home exercise kits, or community programs (like the YMCA) depending on your plan.

Extra Perks and Discounts

  • Phone & Internet: Free or discounted smartphones, tablets, and monthly service plans through the Lifeline Program.
  • Shopping Subscriptions: Discounted half-price memberships for Amazon Prime Access and reduced rates for Walmart+ Assist.
  • Plan-Specific Extras: Depending on your state and Managed Care Organization (MCO), you might get extras like post-discharge home-delivered meals, fresh produce boxes, or gift cards for completing healthy habits.

What extra benefits can I get from Medicaid?

Beyond basic medical coverage, Medicaid and its Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) often provide a range of extra health, transportation, and lifestyle benefits, though availability depends heavily on your specific state and plan.

Health and Wellness Extras

  • Dental and Vision: While mandatory for children, many states and MCOs offer adult dental cleanings, fillings, or dentures, plus vision exams and glasses frames.
  • Over-the-Counter (OTC) Allowances: Monthly or quarterly stipends (often around $35) for everyday health items like vitamins, cold medicine, and toothpaste.
  • Fitness Memberships: Free or discounted gym memberships, such as Active&Fit or local YMCA access.
  • In-Home Care and Equipment: Medical equipment loans, home-health support, and caregiver programs for seniors or individuals with chronic conditions.

Everyday Discounts and Services

  • Transportation: Free rides to doctor appointments through Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) programs, sometimes partnered with Uber or Lyft.
  • Phone and Internet: Discounted or free mobile phone plans and data through programs like Lifeline.
  • Retail Subscriptions: Discounted household subscriptions, including half-price rates on Amazon Prime Access and Walmart+ Assist.

Is there a grocery allowance for people on Medicaid?

There is no universal grocery allowance included with standard Medicaid, but some specialized managed care plans or dual-eligible programs offer food benefits.

How Medicaid and Food Benefits Work

  • Standard Medicaid: Straight or fee-for-service Medicaid does not provide a cash allowance or prepaid debit card for groceries.
  • Managed Care & D-SNPs: Some Medicaid managed care contracts or Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs)—for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid—include monthly or annual food allowances as an extra plan perk.
  • State and Plan Variations: These allowances depend entirely on your specific insurance plan provider and your state of residence. For example, certain managed care programs in states like New York, California, or Florida offer targeted food stipends, while others do not.

Alternative Food Assistance

If your Medicaid plan does not provide a grocery card, you may qualify for separate government food programs:

  • SNAP: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamps) provides monthly money for food through a state EBT card.
  • Local Programs: Programs like BenefitsCheckUp can help you find local senior or low-income food assistance.

Does Medicaid give you a free gym membership?

Medicaid does not offer a free gym membership nationwide, as coverage depends entirely on your specific state and managed care plan.

How Medicaid Fitness Benefits Work

  • State and Plan Rules: Because Medicaid is run by individual states and managed by private insurance companies (Managed Care Organizations or MCOs), extra perks like fitness benefits vary.
  • Managed Care Extras: Some state Medicaid plans contract with programs like One Pass for Medicaid or partner directly with local gyms (like the YMCA or Planet Fitness) to offer free or discounted memberships.
  • Dual Eligibility: If you have both Medicare and Medicaid (dual-eligible), you might have access to fitness programs like SilverSneakers or Renew Active through a Medicare Advantage plan.

Next Steps

To find out if your plan includes this benefit, call the member services phone number listed on the back of your Medicaid card and ask if they offer a preventive fitness or gym benefit.

Free Stuff with Medicaid - On Medicaid? Get free benefits and stuff

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What things does Medicaid pay for?

Medicaid pays for a wide range of essential medical care, hospital visits, and long-term support services for low-income individuals.

Mandatory Services (Covered in All States)

Federal law requires every state to cover these core medical needs:

  • Doctor visits: Check-ups and care from primary doctors and specialists.
  • Hospital care: Inpatient and outpatient hospital services, including emergency room visits.
  • Tests and X-rays: Laboratory tests, blood work, and imaging services.
  • Home health care: Nursing care and health services provided in your home.
  • Nursing facilities: Long-term care in a licensed nursing home.
  • Pregnancy care: Prenatal care, nurse-midwife services, and labor and delivery.
  • Transportation: Emergency and non-emergency medical transportation to get to appointments.
  • Children's care (EPSDT): Comprehensive health screenings and treatment for children under 21.

Optional Services (Varies by State)

States can choose to cover extra services, though most states include them:

  • Prescription drugs: Medications prescribed by a doctor.
  • Dental and vision: Routine dental care, eye exams, and eyeglasses.
  • Therapies: Physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
  • Personal care: Help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and eating (Home and Community-Based Services).
  • Hospice care: End-of-life comfort care.

You can check your local state program guidelines through the official Medicaid Benefits Guide to see exact coverage in your area.

Is Medicare offering free groceries?

Original Medicare does not offer free groceries, but certain private Medicare Advantage plans provide a limited monthly grocery allowance for eligible members.

How the Grocery Benefit Works

  • Not a government handout: Advertisements promising hundreds of dollars in universal free food are often misleading or scams.
  • Plan specific: The benefit is only available through select Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, such as Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) or Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs).
  • Prepaid cards: Eligible members typically receive a flex or debit card loaded with $25 to $200 per month to buy approved healthy foods like produce, dairy, and meat at participating retailers.
  • Strict rules: Funds usually cannot be used for junk food, alcohol, or at non-approved stores, and unused balances often do not roll over.

You can review other available assistance via the Senior Food Programs resource or check if your current plan qualifies.

What items are eligible for Medicaid spend down?

You can use a Medicaid Spend-Down to reduce excess income or assets down to your state's eligibility limits by paying for allowable medical and personal expenses.

Eligible items depend on whether you are doing an income spend-down (paying monthly medical costs to offset surplus income) or an asset spend-down (converting excess savings into exempt property before applying).

Medical and Healthcare Expenses

  • Medical bills: Past or current unpaid and paid medical bills, including doctor visits and hospital care.
  • Prescriptions and drugs: Over-the-counter or prescribed medications.
  • Insurance costs: Health insurance premiums, Medicare premiums, deductibles, and co-pays.
  • Medical devices: Eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, prosthetics, and crutches.
  • Care and therapies: Home health care, nursing home care, physical therapy, and chiropractic services.
  • Transportation: Travel costs required to get to medical appointments.

Property, Home, and Debt (Primarily for Asset Spend-Down)

  • Home modifications: Safety ramps, chair lifts, widened doorways, and essential repairs for medical needs.
  • Debt repayment: Paying off legitimate personal debts, such as a mortgage, credit card balances, or car loans.
  • Exempt assets: Buying a primary vehicle or making improvements to your primary residence.
  • Funeral arrangements: Irrevocable prepaid funeral, cremation, or burial trusts.

What free stuff can I get with Medicare?

Medicare covers many preventive services, screenings, and wellness visits at no out-of-pocket cost.

Preventive Visits

  • Welcome to Medicare Checkup: A one-time general review of your health and medical history during your first 12 months on Part B.
  • Annual Wellness Visit: A yearly meeting with your doctor to update your personalized prevention plan and check your vital signs and cognitive health.

Vaccines and Shots

  • Seasonal and Routine Immunizations: You pay $0 for key vaccines under Part B and Part D, including the COVID-19 Vaccine, flu shots, pneumonia shots, Hepatitis B shots, and the shingles vaccine.

Health Screenings

  • Cancer Screenings: Free annual mammograms (for women 40+), yearly prostate cancer screenings (for men 50+), and scheduled colonoscopies or blood-based biomarker tests.
  • Chronic Disease Tests: Annual screenings for cardiovascular heart disease, diabetes (if you are at risk), and glaucoma.
  • Infections and Mental Health: Free annual screenings for depression, HIV, and Hepatitis B or C.

Counseling and Therapy

  • Behavioral Counseling: Zero-cost face-to-face sessions for alcohol misuse screening, tobacco/smoking cessation, and obesity behavioral therapy.
  • Nutrition and Diabetes Education: Free medical nutrition therapy for individuals with diabetes or kidney disease, alongside diabetes self-management training.

Medicare Advantage Extras

  • Over-the-Counter (OTC) Allowances: Many private Medicare Advantage plans include a monthly or quarterly allowance card to buy everyday drugstore items like vitamins, toothpaste, and pain relievers.
  • Fitness Programs: Some plans and supplemental Medigap policies include free gym memberships and workout classes through programs like SilverSneakers.

What discounts do Medicaid recipients get?

Medicaid recipients qualify for various retail, subscription, technology, and health discounts using their enrollment card or award letter.

Most users on Reddit agree that availability can vary significantly depending on your specific state and managed care plan.

Retail & Subscriptions

  • Amazon Prime Access: Eligible government assistance recipients get Prime at 50% off ($6.99/month instead of $14.99/month).
  • Walmart+ Assist: Offers a 50% discount on membership ($6.47/month), providing free shipping, gas savings, and video streaming choices.
  • Instacart+: Many recipients can receive a discounted annual subscription rate for grocery delivery.

Technology & Communication

  • Lifeline Program: Provides free or heavily discounted monthly phone or internet service.
  • Carrier Plans: Specific providers offer low-income household plans or discounted broadband options (such as Verizon Forward in certain regions).

Health, Fitness & Community

  • Gym Memberships: Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) frequently include discounted fitness programs, YMCA access, or programs like SilverSneakers depending on your local plan.
  • Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT): Free rides or transit assistance to and from medical appointments.