What stores can I use my health pays card at?

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.

No, you cannot use your My Health Pays rewards card to buy vehicle gasoline at gas stations.

🚫 Restricted Uses

• Gasoline: The card is blocked from purchasing vehicle fuel at traditional gas station pumps or convenience stores.
• Cash & Gift Cards: You cannot withdraw cash or buy gift cards with these reward funds.
• Prohibited Items: Alcohol, tobacco, and firearms are strictly excluded.

✅ Approved Uses

• Bills: Pay for utilities (including gas utility bills), rent, and phone/telecommunications.
• Transportation: Public transit is an eligible expense under transportation categories.
• Everyday Shopping: Shop for general household goods at approved retailers like Walmart (in-store only).
• Healthcare: Cover pharmacy cost shares and copays at participating stores.

Your My Health Pays rewards card may be declined at Walmart because of online purchasing rules, restricted items in your cart, or state-specific program limits.

Common Reasons Your Card is Declined

• Shopping Online: You cannot use your My Health Pays card on Walmart's Website or via delivery apps. You must swipe or scan the card inside a physical Walmart store.
• Restricted Items: The card will decline if your cart includes restricted items like alcohol, tobacco, firearms, lottery tickets, or gift cards.
• Split-Payment Issues: If your total is higher than your card balance, some registers or self-checkout lanes fail to split the payment automatically. You must tell the cashier to run the rewards card first for the exact eligible amount, then pay the remaining balance with another method.
• Card Activation or PIN: Your card will not work if it has not been activated or if you have not set up a PIN.
• State Program Rules: Depending on your specific health plan and state, some rewards cards do not support in-store retail purchases and can only be used for designated bills like utilities, rent, or transportation.

How to Fix It

• Check your current balance by logging into your Ambetter Health Member Portal or calling the number on the back of your card.
• Make sure your card is activated and your PIN is set.
• Go to a staffed register or ask a cashier for help splitting the transaction if you are buying a mix of items.

You can use your My Health Pays® rewards card to pay for everyday items, essential bills, and healthcare costs, though exact rules depend on your specific state and insurance plan.

Eligible Everyday Items & Shopping

• Walmart: Shop in-store at Walmart for everyday items and groceries (online purchases at walmart.com are generally not accepted).
• Pharmacy Costs: Cover pharmacy cost-shares, copays, deductibles, and coinsurance at participating locations like Ambetter Health partners (such as Walmart or Hy-Vee) or mail-order pharmacies like Express Scripts.

Eligible Bills & Living Expenses

You can use your rewards to help pay for major household and personal expenses, including:

• Utilities (electric, gas, water)
• Rent or housing payments
• Telecommunications (phone and internet bills)
• Transportation costs
• Childcare services
• Education expenses

Prohibited Purchases

Your card cannot be used to buy:

• Alcohol
• Tobacco or vaping products
• Firearms
• Gift cards, lottery tickets, or converted to cash

No, you cannot directly transfer your My Health Pays rewards to cash.

Rules and Restrictions

• No Cash Access: Official program rules state that rewards cannot be redeemed for cash, withdrawn at an ATM, or used to get cash back.
• No Direct Bank Transfers: Trying to move funds via peer-to-peer apps like PayPal usually fails, as the prepaid card restricts direct fund transfers.

How You Can Spend Your Rewards

Instead of cash, you can use your My Health Pays Card to pay for approved everyday and living expenses:

• Groceries and Everyday Items: Spend funds at participating retailers like Walmart.
• Bills: Pay utilities (gas, electric, water), telecommunications (phone and internet bills), and housing or rent.
• Transportation: Pay for public transit passes, taxis, or rideshare services.
• Healthcare Costs: Cover pharmacy cost-shares.