Humana Grocery Allowance 2027: How the Healthy Options Allowance Works
Reviewed October 23, 2026. Humana’s Medicare grocery allowance is called the Healthy Options Allowance. It’s a monthly amount, starting at $25 a month on eligible plans, loaded on the Humana Spending Account Card, and members who qualify can spend it on groceries plus other everyday needs such as utilities, rent and home supplies. It’s only for members of certain Humana Medicare Advantage plans who meet the plan’s criteria, such as having qualifying chronic conditions.
Quick answer: Not every Humana plan has a grocery allowance, and not every member of a plan that has one qualifies. Humana offers it on most of its C-SNPs and D-SNPs and some other Medicare Advantage plans. Unused money rolls over month to month until the end of the plan year. Check your 2027 Summary of Benefits or Evidence of Coverage for your plan’s amount and rules.
How the Humana grocery allowance works
| Feature | Humana Healthy Options Allowance |
|---|---|
| Amount | Begins at $25 a month; varies by plan and location |
| Card | Humana Spending Account Card |
| Who gets it | Eligible members of most Humana C-SNPs and D-SNPs and some other Medicare Advantage plans |
| Eligibility | Members who meet certain criteria, such as qualifying chronic conditions; some plans require at least two conditions |
| Rollover | Unused balance rolls over month to month until the end of the plan year or until you leave the plan |
Source: Humana: Healthy Options Allowance (last updated October 1, 2026).
Who qualifies for the Humana grocery allowance?
The Healthy Options Allowance is a special supplemental benefit for the chronically ill (SSBCI), so Humana sets eligibility rules. Its page says the allowance is for members who meet certain criteria, like having qualifying chronic health conditions, requiring intensive care coordination and being at an increased risk of hospitalization. Qualifying conditions may include diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, chronic respiratory disease, congestive heart failure and serious long-term mental illness, among others. Some plans require at least two conditions.
For 2027, CMS’s final rule also requires plans to publish their SSBCI eligibility criteria, so your plan’s 2027 materials should spell out who qualifies (CMS CY 2027 final rule fact sheet).
What you can buy with the Humana grocery allowance
Humana lists these spending categories for the Healthy Options Allowance:
- Groceries: fresh produce, drinks, dairy, meat and fish, deli items, ready meals and baked goods
- Home and personal supplies: bathroom paper goods, hygiene products and cleaning supplies, plus air filters, fans, heaters and air conditioners
- Over-the-counter items: allergy, cold and flu medicine, vitamins, first-aid supplies, pain relievers and digestive products
- Pet supplies: pet food, toys, cat litter and flea shampoo
- Utilities, rent and mortgage: electric, heating, water and sewer bills, home phone and internet, and rent or mortgage (some landlords or utility companies may not accept this payment method)
- Assistive devices and disaster preparedness: grab bars, raised toilet seats, low-vision aids, reaching tools, batteries, weather radios, flashlights and bottled water
Which categories you can use depends on your plan. For more on home supplies, see can you buy toilet paper with an OTC card.
Humana grocery allowance amount: a 2026 vs 2027 example
Humana says allowances begin at $25 a month, and many plans offer more. One example from Humana’s 2027 Summary of Benefits: Humana Dual Integrated (HMO D-SNP) H1396-001 in South Carolina lists a $295 monthly allowance on a prepaid card for 2027, up from $280 in 2026. All members of that plan can use it for OTC items, and members with qualifying chronic conditions can also use it for eligible groceries, utilities and rent. Amounts differ by plan and county, so check your own plan’s 2027 Summary of Benefits or Annual Notice of Change.
How to use the Humana Spending Account Card for groceries
- Activate your card when it arrives, following the instructions that come with it.
- Check your balance before you shop, so you know what’s available this month.
- Shop at participating stores and pay with the card at checkout. Eligible items are paid from your allowance; pay for anything else another way.
Step-by-step activation, balance and store details are in our guides to the Humana food card and the Humana Spending Account Card. If you’re ordering OTC products from Humana’s catalog instead, see how to order from the Humana OTC catalog.
Is there a $900 Medicare grocery benefit?
No. There’s no standard Medicare grocery allowance for everyone, and Original Medicare doesn’t pay for groceries. Food allowances like Humana’s come from certain Medicare Advantage plans and only for members who qualify. Our Medicare grocery benefit guide explains the rules.
Comparing Humana plans for 2027
Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. If a grocery allowance matters to you, check each plan’s 2027 Summary of Benefits for the allowance amount and the conditions required to use it for food, and compare doctors, drugs and the out-of-pocket maximum too. See how to find Medicare Advantage plans with OTC benefits.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Humana Medicare grocery allowance work?
Eligible members get a monthly Healthy Options Allowance on the Humana Spending Account Card and can spend it on groceries and other approved categories at participating stores. Unused money rolls over month to month until the end of the plan year.
How much is the Humana grocery allowance?
It starts at $25 a month and varies by plan. For example, Humana Dual Integrated (HMO D-SNP) H1396-001 has $295 a month in 2027.
Do all Humana plans have a grocery allowance?
No. Humana offers the Healthy Options Allowance on most C-SNPs and D-SNPs and some other Medicare Advantage plans, and only members who meet the criteria can use it.
Does the Humana grocery allowance roll over?
Yes, month to month, until the end of the plan year or until you leave the plan, according to Humana.
Can I use the Humana allowance for rent or utilities?
On plans that include those categories, yes, if you qualify. Some landlords or utility companies may not accept this payment method.
This article is general information, not individual insurance advice. Benefits vary by plan and county; check your plan’s Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage. Medicare365 is not affiliated with Humana or the U.S. government.