topic Medicare Benefit Card in Community Chat

Medicare Benefit Card

Kachina624 — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 19:18:05 GMT

Does anyone know anything about the Medicare Benefits Card for groceries and medical supplies for which I keep seeing ads? Supposedly they (Medicare?) Send you a card with which you can get $2500 worth.

Wondering if it's legit? Theis is the last month for enrollment this year.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

I am still oxox — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 19:25:44 GMT

Where did you get the info from I have never heard of this I have had Medicare for 4 years

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

quilter61 — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 19:32:24 GMT

I have a Medicare Advantage plan and it provides an extra benefits card. This card is to purchase healthy foods. You have to have a specific diagnosis (ex: high blood pressure) to receive this benefit. I get $150 per quarter to use for food. It does not carry over, must be used up within the quarter.

I think the one they advertise on TV is for someone that had Medicaid and Medicare. This considered dual coverage and someone that is on these plans receives a card that can be used for paying utilities and groceries.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

kaydee50 — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 19:37:46 GMT

I have a Medicare Advantage plan that gives me $60 each quarter to buy OTC items. I would think that a person's income would need to be a certain level for them to get the benefits the OP mentions.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

teganslaw — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 19:56:37 GMT

The flex card has nothing to do with Medicare. It's sometimes offered through some Advantage plans. A person has to have a certain income, particular health issue or also qualifies for Medicaid in what is known as a "dual plan." Not everyone is eligible, and often people with Medicare supplemental plans don't qualify unless they're lower income or on disability.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

Kachina624 — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 20:42:32 GMT

@I am still oxox wrote:
Where did you get the info from I have never heard of this I have had Medicare for 4 years

@I am still oxox. They've been running ads for some time on social media.

If nobody else is familiar with it, I assume its a ploy to get contact info for insurance sales.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

Kachina624 — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 20:45:14 GMT

@quilter61. I don't think this is the same thing. There's no mention of Medicaid. They ask your age and if you have Medicare Part A or B.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

ValuSkr — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 20:47:08 GMT

Yes, it's offered by some Advantage plans and there are as many variations as there are plans. It's an enticement to seniors so they sign up with their plan. I get $250 per quarter from an Aetna plan and monies not spent don't roll over to the next quarter. It's meant to be used for medical out-of-pockets, like copayments and deductibles. I don't know if OTC drugs are included.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

Bookplate — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 20:50:01 GMT

This has absolutely nothing to do with traditional Medicare and everything to do with Medicare Advantage plans. They are basically bribing you to take their inferior plans that do not cover as much as traditional Medicare and a medigap plan combined. It's just another insurance company sleight of hand.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

Caffeina — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 21:10:01 GMT

@Kachina624

Look for this article on the AARP site. It might explain the card you've seen ads for. The article also warns of scams.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

Carmie — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 21:12:47 GMT

@Bookplate wrote:
This has absolutely nothing to do with traditional Medicare and everything to do with Medicare Advantage plans. They are basically bribing you to take their inferior plans that do not cover as much as traditional Medicare and a medigap plan combined. It's just another insurance company sleight of hand.

By law, ALL Advantage plans MUST cover the same services as Medicare PART A and B.

The payments can be different, but they have to cover the same services.

Plus, Advantage Plans can cover RX drugs, Vision, Dental, OTC supplies, Food, Transportation, health club dues, hearing aids, and they pay you $ to get some services done....like a colonscopy or mammogram and immuzations.

Not all Advantage plans will give you an allowance for the grocery store, but some do...and not all Advantage plans include all the extras listed.

You have to do your homework and check out what is available in your area.

There is no slight of hand. You get info upfront before you buy. Some of those Advantage plans are super awesome....but not all of them, the same way some supplements are awesome and some aren't.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

elated — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 14:49:00 GMT

The Medicare Advantage Plan varies from state to state. I have Anthem Blue Cross which is quite generous. You get $100 every quarter for the OTC, a $500.00 debit card to use to pay for dental, vision and hearing or 60 rides to and from appointments or $150 toward utilities.. You can use to buy groceries if the item you scan is approved in their plan..I found this plan offered many more benefits than United Healthcare.

I know they keep advertising about Medicare and Medicaid used together for supplemental but I don't know the benefits.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

Sage04 — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 23:09:59 GMT

@Kachina624 I have a Medicare Advantage plan and I get $75 monthly for over the counter supplies which rolls over if I do not use it. Also $2,500 dental and $300 vision. Don't remember what it is for hearing.

My brother has his plan with a different Company and he gets $220 monthly but if he does not use it he loses it. $3,000 for dental and $400 for vision.

Ans we all pay the same Medicare monthly premium.

They can bribe me all they want (like someone mentioned here) I love it and I have always had a Medicare Advantage plan and would never change. It works for me.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

Sage04 — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 23:12:16 GMT

@I am still oxox wrote:
Where did you get the info from I have never heard of this I have had Medicare for 4 years

@I am still oxox it's only for those of us who have the Medicare Advantage Plan.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

Sage04 — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 23:22:44 GMT

@Bookplate wrote:
This has absolutely nothing to do with traditional Medicare and everything to do with Medicare Advantage plans. They are basically bribing you to take their inferior plans that do not cover as much as traditional Medicare and a medigap plan combined. It's just another insurance company sleight of hand.

@Bookplate I'm so happy with my Medicare Advantage Plan and it's also a PPO so no matter where in the US I go, I'm covered. I'm taking everything they give me. I'm paying for it, it's not free.

Everybody has to choose for themselves.

I forgot to mention my 36 one way trip to my medical appointments. Don't have to drive.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

pdlinda — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 00:38:16 GMT

@Kachina624 I never heard of it and from what was mentioned on this thread I wouldn't qualify.

With our Country being $37 Trillion in debt AND medicare $$ dwindling I'm not seeing how any ADDITIONAL benefits could be offered to all recipients.

HOWEVER, I agree that for people with disabilities and certain underlying conditions whatever extra benefits are offered to them would certainly offset the medical bills that presumably would occur if those conditions were allowed to persist and got worse.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

I am still oxox — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 10:46:16 GMT

@Sage04 I have traditional Medicare and a good supplement I was advised not to use and advantage plan.

@Sage04 wrote:
@I am still oxox wrote:
Where did you get the info from I have never heard of this I have had Medicare for 4 years

@I am still oxox it's only for those of us who have the Medicare Advantage Plan.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

Imaoldhippie — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 11:11:55 GMT

I dont trust the government or insurance companies. They are in bed together. JMO

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

gidgetgh — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 12:08:01 GMT

@pdlinda wrote:
@Kachina624 I never heard of it and from what was mentioned on this thread I wouldn't qualify.

With our Country being $37 Trillion in debt AND medicare $$ dwindling I'm not seeing how any ADDITIONAL benefits could be offered to all recipients.

HOWEVER, I agree that for people with disabilities and certain underlying conditions whatever extra benefits are offered to them would certainly offset the medical bills that presumably would occur if those conditions were allowed to persist and got worse.

@pdlinda - you know that Medicare Advantage programs offered by private companies, right? It's not the government handing out the freebies. It is the private companies offering these in an effort to get your business.

Re: Medicare Benefit Card

CalminHeart — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 12:19:48 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Does anyone know anything about the Medicare Benefits Card for groceries and medical supplies for which I keep seeing ads? Supposedly they (Medicare?) Send you a card with which you can get $2500 worth.

Wondering if it's legit? Theis is the last month for enrollment this year.

It's not from Medicare. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer this and it adds to the premium paid.