By Jasmine LawsShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberMillions of Americans using one of the Medicare programs may be leaving billions of dollars worth of benefits unused— benefits which would allow the seniors to purchase a huge range of supplies free of charge.
Those using the Medicare Advantage (MA) program have access to "over the counter" benefits, also known as OTC benefits. Dr. Mark Fendrick, a professor in the Division of General Medicine, and a professor of health management and policy at the University of Michigan, told Newsweek that around 87 percent of MA plans offer some kind of OTC benefit, citing a report by the consulting firm Milliman.
Why It Matters
In a landscape of rising inflation and increasing costs of groceries, health care, utilities and more, these benefits could provide financial support for millions of seniors.
Around 18 million Americans have access to the OTC benefits, and MA enrollees eligible for them receive an annual average sum of $400 to spend on certain health and wellness purchases, based on data from the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA).
...What To Know
It has been found that only around 30 percent of MA recipients make the most of their OTC benefits, meaning that almost $5 billion worth of the benefits go unused each year, according to CHPA.
These benefits can be used to cover the costs of various non-prescription health and wellness items, such as vitamins, pain relievers, and first aid supplies, as well as dental care, eye and ear care, foot care and more.
Not all non-prescription products are covered by OTC benefits, but community pharmacies can be a good place to purchase OTC items, Lucas Berenbrok, associate professor of pharmacy and therapeutics at the University of Pittsburgh, told Newsweek.
He said that some MA plans will preload a kind of debit card with the cash for the benefits, but the issue is that "some may be unaware of their benefits or may not know how to use them."
It is important that beneficiaries "check with their plan to determine whether specific purchases are covered— eligible items can be found on the plan's website or in a mailed brochure," Fendrick told Newsweek.
He added that it is also important recipients check to see when benefits expire. He said they "often do not 'roll over' to a future time period."
Fendrick said he thought that there could be many reasons the benefits remain widely unused, including that beneficiaries "are often unaware of the benefits," that benefits expire and that some may "find it inconvenient, although plans often provide easy to use debit cards."
What People Are Saying
Lucas Berenbrok, associate professor of pharmacy and therapeutics at the University of Pittsburgh, told Newsweek: "Tools like online catalogs and mobile applications can help consumers understand what items may be covered, although members should check with their plan for an up-to-date list of eligible items. Eligible items may include more than just non-prescription medications like canes, supports and braces, vitamins and minerals, denture care and COVID-19 tests. Using an OTC benefit can help offset the out-of-pocket costs for these covered items."
He added: "Community pharmacies are ideal places to buy OTC items because pharmacists are trained in self-care and can guide consumers on using non-prescription products safely and effectively. Talk with your neighborhood pharmacist before starting an OTC medication or product to better your health."
What Happens Next
In order to help seniors navigate their OTC benefits, a free app has been made to help them use their benefits, called Chapter OTC, made by Cobi Blumenfeld-Gantz.
The app enables seniors to check their OTC balance, find eligible items from stores and have those items delivered to their homes.
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
NewsNATO Scrambles Fighter Jets After Mass Russian Strikes3 min read
NewsThousands Advised To Stay Inside in Texas, Indiana1 min read
NewsUS Halts All Asylum Claims After National Guard Shootings: What To Know2 min read
News‘Isolated’ Shooting at California Mall Injures 2 People: Police2 min read
NewsHegseth Defends Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats in Caribbean as ‘Lawful’4 min read
PoliticsState Department Expands Visa Pause to Afghan Passport Carriers3 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
NewsUS Halts All Asylum Claims After National Guard Shootings: What To Know2 min read
NewsUncommon Knowledge: On Black Friday, Payday Lenders Are Now Armed With AI5 min readPoliticsState Department Expands Visa Pause to Afghan Passport Carriers3 min read
NewsMap Shows Where Significant Snow Will Disrupt Post-Thanksgiving Travel3 min read
NewsPolice to Accompany National Guard in DC After Fatal Shooting: Report4 min read
NewsSarah Beckstrom’s Ex-Boyfriend Reacts to DC Shooting: ‘Loved Her to Pieces’4 min readTrending
New York8 Million Inflation Refund Checks Sent Out Ahead of Thanksgiving4 min read
WeatherWinter Storm Warning As 14 inches of Snow To Strike: ‘Delay All Travel’3 min read
AldiAldi Recall Update: Customers Told Discard Christmas Products ‘Immediately’3 min read
ColoradoColorado State Senator Dies Suddenly4 min read
WalmartWalmart Recall Update: Customers Warned ‘Immediately Stop’ Using Products4 min readOpinion
OpinionRedefining Professional Degrees Will Hurt Everyday Americans | Opinion5 min read
OpinionAI Is Coming for Our Most Intimate Communications. Congress Must Act | Opinion5 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Thanksgiving Tragedies Edition3 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Anti-Thanksgiving Edition3 min read
OpinionHow to Remain Grounded and Thankful Amid the Chaos5 min read
