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Texas Medicaid OTC Benefits 2027: Superior, Aetna, Molina and More

By Modinul Islam Khan Updated October 31, 2026

Reviewed October 31, 2026. Texas Medicaid OTC benefits come in two forms. Texas Medicaid’s pharmacy benefit covers some over-the-counter (OTC) drugs on the state formulary, and many Texas Medicaid health plans add an OTC allowance as a “value-added service.” For the September 2026 plan charts, for example, Superior HealthPlan lists $100 a year per household ($25 a quarter) for STAR members and Aetna Better Health lists $25 each quarter in Bexar County.

Quick answer: Look up your plan on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) comparison chart for your program and county, then order from that plan’s OTC catalog. Value-added services follow the Texas fiscal year (September 1 to August 31), so the amounts below apply from fall 2026 into 2027 unless your plan changes them. If you also have Medicare, a 2027 dual plan (D-SNP) may give you a much larger monthly credit.

Does Texas Medicaid cover over-the-counter items?

Yes, for some drugs. The Texas Vendor Drug Program (VDP) says “HHSC provides coverage for over-the-counter (OTC) products for Medicaid clients” when “an OTC is an economical and therapeutic alternative to a prescription drug item.” Its OTC categories include pain relievers, anti-nausea medicines, insulin, oral contraceptives and respiratory products. VDP also notes that HHSC covers some OTC drugs “except for clients residing in a nursing facility.”

This pharmacy coverage is separate from an OTC allowance. It runs through your pharmacy like any other Medicaid drug, so ask your doctor or pharmacist whether the item you need is on the Texas formulary. Personal care items such as toothpaste, diapers or household health products are usually only available through a plan’s value-added OTC benefit.

Texas Medicaid OTC benefits by plan

HHSC publishes a comparison chart of each plan’s value-added services for every program (STAR, STAR+PLUS, STAR Kids and CHIP) and service area. These are the OTC entries in the current STAR charts we reviewed:

Plan	OTC value-added service	Source and area
Superior HealthPlan (STAR)	“$100 yearly allowance per household ($25 per quarter)” for OTC personal care, oral care, household and children’s items	HHSC STAR charts, Bexar (10/01/26) and El Paso (10/01/26)
Aetna Better Health of Texas (STAR)	“$25 each quarter for health and grocery items”	HHSC STAR chart, Bexar (10/01/26)
Molina Healthcare of Texas (STAR)	Up to $100 a year: a $25 reward each quarter for OTC and other health-related supplies not covered by Medicaid; must be requested each quarter	HHSC STAR chart, El Paso (10/01/26)
Wellpoint (STAR)	$20 gift card allowance for OTC medicines after flu vaccines (children 6 to 24 months who finish the series, and members 3 and older vaccinated each year)	HHSC STAR chart, Bexar (10/01/26)
Community First Health Plans (STAR)	One $50 allowance for health and wellness products for members in complex case management for 60+ days	HHSC STAR chart, Bexar (10/01/26)
El Paso Health (STAR)	$50 gift card for OTC items after a New Member Orientation course	HHSC STAR chart, El Paso (10/01/26)

Not every plan is offered in every county, and the same company can list different extras in different programs. Always check the chart for your own program and service area before you choose a plan.

STAR+PLUS and STAR Health OTC allowances

Plans often give a little more to adults in STAR+PLUS and to children in foster care. Examples from the plans’ own value-added service inserts:

Superior STAR Health (foster care), September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027: “Up to $30 every quarter for commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) items,” ordered through cvs.com/benefits.
Superior STAR+PLUS, September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026: a “$120 yearly allowance ($30 per quarter),” with “unused balances … not carried over from quarter to quarter.” Superior said this benefit wasn’t for members with both Medicare and Medicaid or for ICF-IID residents. Superior has posted a 2026-2027 value-added services update, so confirm the current amount with Member Services.

HHSC keeps separate STAR+PLUS charts for Medicaid-only and dual members and for nursing facility and community members. If you have Medicare too, your STAR+PLUS extras may be different.

How to order OTC items with a Texas Medicaid plan

Find your plan and program. Both are on your member ID card. If you aren’t sure you’re covered, see how to check your Medicaid status.
Read the plan’s value-added services page or insert. It explains who qualifies, the amount, and whether you must request the benefit each quarter (Molina’s STAR entry says you do).
Order through the plan’s vendor. Superior’s OTC benefit is ordered online at cvs.com/benefits, by phone or at participating stores. Other plans use gift cards or rewards instead of a catalog.
Use it before it expires. Quarterly allowances usually don’t roll over, so plan orders before the end of each quarter.

For typical catalog items, see our list of what you can get with an OTC card. Since several Texas plans use CVS, our guide to CVS OTC benefits explains how ordering works there. For the general steps, see how to apply for an OTC card with Medicaid.

Can I change my Texas Medicaid plan to get a better OTC benefit?

Usually, yes. HHSC says value-added services “are extra services included in your health plan,” and “if you’re enrolled in a Medicaid plan, you can choose to change your health plan at any time.” CHIP members can change only during the first 90 days of enrollment. HHSC says changes take 15 to 45 days to process.

To compare or change plans, use the HHSC comparison charts, Your Texas Benefits, or call the Texas Enrollment Broker Helpline at 800-964-2777. An OTC allowance is only one factor, so also check that your doctors, dentists and pharmacy are in the new plan’s network.

If you have Medicare and Texas Medicaid: 2027 dual plans

People with both Medicare and Medicaid can choose a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP). These Medicare Advantage plans run on the calendar year, and many include a monthly OTC credit that is much larger than a Medicaid allowance. Two 2027 examples from UnitedHealthcare’s own Summaries of Benefits:

2027 plan	Service area	OTC benefit (2027 Summary of Benefits)
UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete TX-S4 (HMO-POS D-SNP), H4527-060-001	Aransas, Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces and San Patricio counties	“$258 credit every month for OTC, plus healthy food and utilities for qualifying members”
UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete TX-Q8 (HMO-POS D-SNP), H5322-025-000	About 60 counties, including Lubbock, Midland, Potter, Victoria and Wichita	“$89 credit every month for over-the-counter (OTC) products,” listed with special supplemental benefits that have eligibility rules

UnitedHealthcare says these benefits “have expiration timeframes,” so check the plan’s Evidence of Coverage for rollover rules. Amounts vary by plan and county. See UnitedHealthcare UCard in Texas and Wellpoint OTC benefits for other Texas dual plans. You can compare 2027 plans during Medicare Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, and people with Medicaid may be able to change plans at other times under Medicare’s special enrollment rules.

Texas Medicaid OTC phone numbers

Need	Number or website
Change or compare Texas Medicaid or CHIP plans	Texas Enrollment Broker Helpline, 800-964-2777
Superior HealthPlan Member Services	1-800-783-5386
Superior OTC orders	cvs.com/benefits
Any other plan	The Member Services number on your ID card

Frequently asked questions

Does Texas Medicaid give you an OTC card?

Texas Medicaid itself doesn’t issue an OTC card. Some Texas Medicaid health plans offer an OTC allowance as a value-added service, such as Superior’s $25 a quarter per household in STAR. Others use gift cards or rewards.

How much is the Superior HealthPlan OTC allowance?

HHSC’s October 2026 STAR charts list Superior’s benefit as $100 a year per household ($25 a quarter). Superior STAR Health lists up to $30 a quarter for 2026-2027. STAR+PLUS was $30 a quarter for 2025-2026.

Does Texas Medicaid cover Tylenol or other OTC medicine?

Texas Medicaid covers some OTC drugs, including some pain relievers, through the Vendor Drug Program when they are an economical alternative to a prescription drug. Ask your pharmacist whether the product is on the formulary.

When do Texas Medicaid value-added services change?

Value-added services follow the state fiscal year, which starts September 1. Plans can update them, so check your plan’s current chart or insert.

Can I get OTC benefits if I have Medicare and Medicaid in Texas?

Yes, often through a D-SNP. For 2027, UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete TX-S4 lists a $258 monthly credit for OTC items. Some STAR+PLUS OTC allowances aren’t available to dual members.

For allowances in other states, see our Medicaid OTC benefits guide, Georgia Medicaid OTC benefits and Florida Medicaid OTC benefits. Texas parents may also want does MCNA Dental cover braces in Texas.

This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by any Texas Medicaid health plan, HHSC, Medicare or any U.S. government agency. Benefits vary by plan, program and county and can change; check your member handbook or call the number on your member ID card.