Wellpoint OTC Benefits 2027: Card, Allowance Amounts and Medicaid Extras

Reviewed October 27, 2026. Wellpoint OTC benefits are allowances that some Wellpoint Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans give members to buy over-the-counter health items. In Wellpoint Medicare Advantage plans, the money loads onto the Benefits Mastercard Prepaid Card, which you can use in participating stores or to order online, by phone or by mail. For 2027, several Wellpoint Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) in Texas include a monthly Everyday Options allowance of $65 to $80, depending on the plan.

Quick answer: Wellpoint is an Elevance Health brand that replaced the Amerigroup name in several states starting in January 2024. Your OTC benefit depends on your exact plan and county. In Medicare Advantage, check the “Over-the-counter items” or “Everyday Options” line in your 2027 Summary of Benefits. In Medicaid, Wellpoint’s state pages list amounts such as $30 a quarter in Maryland and up to $15 a quarter for certain OTC medicines in New Jersey. Unused money expires at the end of each period.

What is Wellpoint?

In a July 2023 announcement, Elevance Health said its Amerigroup health plans would be renamed Wellpoint starting in January 2024 in Arizona, Iowa, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. Wellpoint’s own site lists Medicare plans in Arizona, Iowa, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, and Medicaid plans in Washington, D.C., Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and West Virginia. In Florida, Simply Healthcare Plans, Inc. does business as Wellpoint Florida, Inc. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans are a separate Elevance Health brand; see Anthem OTC benefits 2027 and Blue Cross Blue Shield OTC benefits.

How the Wellpoint OTC card works

• Card: the Benefits Mastercard Prepaid Card, issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. Wellpoint calls it a flex card.
• Where it works: only at participating merchants in the United States, for eligible items.
• How to shop: in store, online, by phone or by mail, according to Wellpoint’s member OTC page.
• No cash: the card can’t be used to get cash.
• One card, several allowances: Elevance Health’s October 1, 2026 announcement of its 2027 Medicare Advantage plans says “multiple covered allowances may be available through a single Benefits Prepaid Card.”

Elevance also says many of its affiliated 2027 Medicare Advantage plans “continue to offer an Everyday Options Allowance,” which can cover OTC items, healthy foods and assistive devices. Healthy food is a Special Supplemental Benefit for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI), so it’s only for members who qualify.

Wellpoint Medicare Advantage OTC amounts for 2027

These examples come from Wellpoint’s 2027 Summaries of Benefits for Texas D-SNPs, which are plans for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. In each one, the allowance is a monthly Everyday Options amount on the Benefits Mastercard, and unused money expires at the end of the month.

For comparison, in 2026 Wellpoint’s H8849-011-004 plan for El Paso and Hudspeth counties listed $80 a month. In these Texas plans, the food and utility parts of the allowance are limited to members who meet the SSBCI rules. Utilities can include gas, electric, water, cable, internet or cell phone service.

Other states use similar combined allowances. Washington’s Health Care Authority lists two 2026 Wellpoint plans for Apple Health members: Wellpoint Full Dual Advantage (H1894-002-000) at $75 a month and Wellpoint Dual Advantage (H1894-011-000) at $50 a month, each one pool for assistive devices, food, OTC items and utilities. In Tennessee, the 2026 Summary of Benefits for Wellpoint Full Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP) H5828-002-000 lists $175 a month. We haven’t confirmed 2027 amounts for the Washington and Tennessee plans, so check your 2027 Annual Notice of Change.

Wellpoint Medicaid OTC benefits by state

Wellpoint Medicaid plans offer OTC help as an extra (value-added) benefit, and it differs by state:

Value-added benefits can change each year, and amounts may be per member or per household. Check your state’s Wellpoint extras page or member handbook. For other Medicaid plans, see Medicaid OTC benefits by plan, and for Georgia, Georgia Medicaid OTC benefits.

What you can buy with Wellpoint OTC benefits

Your plan’s catalog and the card’s checkout system decide what’s approved. OTC catalogs usually include:

• Pain, cold, cough and allergy medicine
• Vitamins and supplements
• First aid supplies
• Dental and denture care
• Personal care and incontinence items
• Home health items such as blood pressure monitors

Groceries and utility bills are only covered if your plan includes them and you qualify. Wellpoint also has separate dental benefits; see Wellpoint dental coverage.

How to check your Wellpoint OTC balance and order

1. Activate your Benefits Mastercard using the instructions mailed with it.
2. Sign in through the website or app printed on your card, or Wellpoint’s member site, to see your balance and the store locator.
3. Order online, by phone or by mail, or shop at a participating store.
4. Call the number on the back of your card if a purchase is declined.

Texas Medicare Advantage members can call 1-833-713-1305 (TTY 711), according to the 2027 Summary of Benefits. Texas Medicaid Member Services is 833-731-2160 (TTY 711), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central. Maryland Medicaid members can call 833-707-0867 (TTY 711). More balance help is in how to check your OTC card balance.

Changing plans for 2027

If an OTC or Everyday Options allowance matters to you, compare plans during Medicare Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026. If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, you may have extra chances to change plans during the year; ask your plan or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Compare the allowance with premiums, drug costs and provider networks; see Medicare Advantage plans with OTC benefits and What are OTC benefits?

Frequently asked questions

Does Wellpoint have an OTC card?

Yes. Wellpoint Medicare Advantage plans with OTC money use the Benefits Mastercard Prepaid Card. Not every plan includes an allowance.

How much is the Wellpoint OTC allowance in 2027?

It depends on the plan. Texas D-SNP examples range from $65 to $80 a month in Everyday Options money for 2027.

Does Wellpoint OTC money roll over?

No. In the plans we checked, unused money expires at the end of each month.

Is Wellpoint the same as Amerigroup?

Yes, in the states where Elevance renamed Amerigroup to Wellpoint starting in January 2024. If you still have an Amerigroup card, call the number on it to confirm your benefits.

Can I use my Wellpoint card for groceries?

Only if your plan includes healthy food in its allowance and you meet the SSBCI chronic-condition rules.

This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with Wellpoint, Elevance Health, Simply Healthcare, any card issuer or the U.S. government. Benefits vary by plan, state and county; check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage or member handbook.

Sources

• Wellpoint: Member OTC benefits
• Wellpoint: About us
• Elevance Health: 2027 Medicare Advantage plans (October 1, 2026)
• Elevance Health: Amerigroup plans to be renamed Wellpoint
• Wellpoint Dual Advantage Select H8849-025-000 2027 Summary of Benefits (PDF)
• Wellpoint Dual Advantage H8849-020-003 2027 Summary of Benefits (PDF)
• Wellpoint Dual Advantage H8849-020-004 2027 Summary of Benefits (PDF)
• Wellpoint Dual Advantage H8849-030-000 2027 Summary of Benefits (PDF)
• Washington HCA: Wellpoint Apple Health Medicare Connect supplemental benefits (PDF)
• Wellpoint Maryland Medicaid extras
• Wellpoint New Jersey Medicaid extras
• Wellpoint Iowa Medicaid extras
• Wellpoint Texas STAR value-added benefits change (PDF)
• Simply Healthcare Florida Medicaid benefits