Healthy food card vs OTC card vs flex card: how to tell which one you have

Introduction

If you have a benefits card in your wallet, it can be hard to tell what it is for. Some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans offer extra benefits that Original Medicare does not cover, and those extras can be delivered through a separate card, a barcode in an app, or an account tied to your name. Because plans can bundle multiple supplemental benefits together, one physical card can sometimes pay for more than one type of benefit.

This guide helps you identify whether you have a healthy food card, an OTC card, or a flex card, and what to do if the card is not clearly labeled.

Quick comparison: what each card is designed for

Healthy food card

A healthy food card is usually tied to a food and produce benefit offered by some Medicare Advantage plans. Research and federal reporting describe “food and produce” as one of the newer supplemental benefit types that plans may offer to support health, especially for certain eligible groups.

What it usually pays for:

• Eligible groceries, often focused on healthier staples (for example fruits, vegetables, proteins, dairy, whole grains)
• Purchases are commonly restricted to approved items and approved stores

Common clues:

• Words like “Food,” “Grocery,” “Produce,” or “Nutrition”
• A monthly or quarterly allowance that may expire if unused (your plan rules control this)

OTC card

An OTC card is usually tied to an over-the-counter items allowance offered by many Medicare Advantage plans as a supplemental benefit.

What it usually pays for:

• Eligible nonprescription health items (for example pain relievers, first aid, allergy products, incontinence supplies)
• Sometimes certain wellness items, depending on your plan’s rules

Common clues:

• Words like “OTC,” “Over-the-Counter,” or “Health & Wellness”
• References to an OTC catalog or an OTC shopping list

Important safety note: OTC medicines can still cause side effects or interact with other medicines, so it helps to read labels carefully and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.

Flex card

“Flex card” is often a plan nickname, not a single standardized Medicare benefit. Many plans use it to describe a flexible spending allowance that can be applied to a defined set of supplemental benefits. What counts as “flex” depends on your specific plan.

What it usually pays for:

• A wider set of approved categories than an OTC-only card, depending on the plan (for example dental, vision, hearing, fitness, transportation, certain home supports, or other plan-defined items or services)

Common clues:

• Words like “Flex,” “Allowance,” “Spending,” “Benefits Card,” or “Spend Account”
• The plan describes multiple “wallets” or “accounts” under one card

Why these cards are easy to mix up

Medicare Advantage plans can offer supplemental benefits beyond Original Medicare, and federal rules and guidance allow plans to structure these benefits in different ways. In practice, that means:

• One card can be linked to multiple benefit buckets (sometimes called wallets or accounts).
• Two people in the same insurer family can have different rules because plan designs vary by county, plan type, and eligibility.
• The card branding might emphasize the vendor that administers the benefit rather than the benefit type.

How to identify your card step by step

Step 1: Start with the card itself

Look for these details on the front and back:

• The printed benefit name (OTC, Food, Grocery, Flex, Allowance)
• A customer service phone number labeled for benefits card support
• Any text that hints at multiple uses, such as “OTC + Grocery” or “Benefits Wallet”
• Whether the card looks like a payment card with a magnetic stripe or chip, or whether it looks more like an ID-style card

If the card says “OTC” clearly, you likely have an OTC card. If it says “Food” or “Grocery,” you likely have a healthy food card. If it says “Flex,” “Allowance,” or “Spending,” you likely have a flex-style benefits card.

Step 2: Match the card to your plan documents

Your plan’s Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage are the most reliable sources for what your card can pay for. Look for sections that mention:

• OTC items allowance
• Food and produce or grocery benefit
• Any flexible spending or combined supplemental benefit maximum

If you see a single dollar amount that covers several supplemental benefits, that is a strong sign you have a flex-style structure, even if the card itself does not say “flex.”

Step 3: Confirm the benefit category and balance

Use one of these confirmation paths:

• Check your plan’s member materials for a benefits card balance and eligible items list.
• Call Member Services using the number on your Medicare Advantage plan ID card (not a number from an advertisement). Ask them to tell you exactly which benefit accounts are attached to your benefits card.

If you have more than one benefit attached to the same card, ask Member Services to name each account separately (for example “OTC wallet” and “Food wallet”) and explain what each wallet can purchase.

Step 4: If the card declines at checkout, use the decline as a clue

A decline often means one of these is true:

• The store is not an approved retailer for that benefit.
• The item is not eligible under your plan’s list.
• You tried to spend from the wrong wallet (for example using a food wallet for an OTC product).
• Your balance is $0 or the benefit period ended.

When this happens, save the receipt or the declined transaction message and call the card support line or Member Services. Ask them to explain which rule caused the decline.

What each card type usually requires you to follow

Healthy food benefits are often more restricted than you expect

Food benefits commonly limit:

• Which retailers you can use
• Which items qualify
• When funds load and when they expire

Because “food and produce” benefits are newer and vary widely, your plan documents matter more than the card name.

OTC benefits can be helpful, but use them safely

OTC products are available without a prescription, but they still carry risks. It helps to:

• Read the Drug Facts label every time (even for familiar brands)
• Avoid taking two products with the same active ingredient
• Ask your pharmacist about interactions if you take multiple medications

Flex benefits are flexible inside plan rules, not unlimited

A flex card can feel broad, but it still has boundaries:

• Only certain categories are covered
• Some categories require specific providers or approved merchants
• Funds may be time-limited

What to ask Member Services so you get a clear answer

You can copy and paste these questions into a notes app before you call:

• “What is the exact name of the benefit card program on my plan?”
• “Do I have separate wallets for OTC, healthy food, or other categories?”
• “What is my current balance in each wallet, and when does each balance expire?”
• “Which stores are approved for my food benefit, and which items are excluded?”
• “Can you mail or email the eligible items list and the benefit rules for my plan?”
• “If I only have one card, which benefits are attached to it, and how do I choose the right wallet at checkout?”

How to protect yourself from benefit card scams

Ads and phone calls sometimes use confusing phrases like “Medicare flex card” to pressure you into sharing personal information. A few ways to stay safer:

• Do not give your Medicare number to unsolicited callers.
• Do not trust a caller who claims you must “activate” a new Medicare benefit card immediately.
• Use official channels to report suspected Medicare fraud and get guidance.

If you feel rushed or unsure, pause and call your plan using the number on your plan ID card.

When you want help sorting it out

If you are juggling plan documents, card mailers, denials, or confusing balances, it can help to have someone walk through it with you.

Learn more about support that may be relevant:

• https://understoodcare.com/care-types/analyze-bills
• https://understoodcare.com/care-types/application-help
• https://understoodcare.com/care-types/lower-costs-of-medication
• https://understoodcare.com/healthcare-info/how-our-care-team-assists-you
• https://understoodcare.com/healthcare-info/financial-help‍

FAQ

• Is a Medicare Advantage flex card the same as an OTC card?
  No. Some plans use one card for multiple benefits, but an OTC card is usually limited to eligible over-the-counter items, while “flex” can refer to a broader plan-defined allowance.
• How do I tell if my card is a healthy food card or a grocery allowance?
  Check your plan documents for a “food and produce” or grocery benefit and confirm which retailers and items are eligible for your specific plan.
• Can one Medicare Advantage card cover OTC and healthy food benefits?
  Yes. Some plans bundle supplemental benefits so one card can have separate wallets such as OTC and food, each with its own rules and balance.
• Why does my OTC card get declined for vitamins or pain relievers?
  Your plan may restrict certain items, you may be at a nonapproved retailer, or your benefit period balance may be $0. Member Services can tell you the exact decline reason.
• Do healthy food card benefits roll over each month?
  It depends on the plan. Some benefits expire monthly, quarterly, or at year end. Your plan’s Evidence of Coverage explains the schedule.
• Is the “Medicare flex card” advertised online an official Medicare program?
  Be cautious. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies and benefit card rules vary. If someone contacts you unexpectedly, verify through your plan using the phone number on your ID card.
• What should I do if I lost my OTC, grocery, or flex benefits card?
  Call the number on the back of the benefits card if you have it recorded, or call Member Services from your plan ID card to request a replacement and protect your account.

References

• Medicare. Your coverage options. https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options
• Medicare. Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans (PDF). https://www.medicare.gov/publications/12026-understanding-medicare-advantage-plans.pdf
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Updated Guidance for Medicare Advantage Organizations (PDF). https://www.cms.gov/files/document/updated-guidance-medicare-advantage-organizations-5132020.pdf
• eCFR. 42 CFR 422.102 Supplemental benefits. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-422/subpart-C/section-422.102
• U.S. Government Accountability Office. GAO-23-105527 Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits (PDF). https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-105527.pdf
• JAMA Network Open. County-Level Food Insecurity and Access to Medicare Advantage Food Benefits. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2842591
• JAMA Network Open. New Supplemental Benefits and Plan Ratings Among Medicare Advantage Enrollees. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2819557
• MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Using over-the-counter medicines safely. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000882.htm
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Over-the-Counter Drug Facts Label. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/over-counter-drug-facts-label
• Medicare. Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse. https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse
• Federal Trade Commission. Medicare impersonators. https://consumer.ftc.gov/medicare-impersonators
• MyPlate.gov. Nutrition information for older adults. https://www.myplate.gov/life-stages/older-adults

This information is for general education and does not replace medical advice from your own clinicians or care team. If you are considering PACE or have questions about PACE program food benefits, talk directly with your local PACE organization or a trusted advocate.