OTC and Food Cards by Insurer: Card Names, Balance and Login (2027)

Reviewed November 2, 2026. An OTC and food card is a prepaid benefits card that some Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans load with money for over-the-counter health items and, for members who qualify, healthy groceries. Each insurer gives its card a different name and uses a different company to run it, which is why “how do I check my balance?” has a different answer for every plan. This guide lists the card name, administrator and balance check for the major insurers, with 2027 information where it’s published.

Quick answer: Look at the back of your card: it names the website, app and phone number for activation and balance. Amerigroup (now Wellpoint) uses the Wellpoint Benefits Mastercard Prepaid Card, with balances at MyBenefits.NationsBenefits.com. EmblemHealth members order OTC items through Convey Benefits or CVS. Healthfirst uses the OTC Plus card. CDPHP’s individual Medicare Advantage plans no longer include an OTC allowance in 2027. Food is only covered for members who meet their plan’s rules for special supplemental benefits.

OTC and food card names by insurer

Amerigroup (Wellpoint) benefits prepaid card

Elevance Health renamed its Amerigroup plans Wellpoint starting in January 2024 in Arizona, Iowa, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. (Elevance Health) If your card still says Amerigroup, the benefit now runs under the Wellpoint name.

Wellpoint describes its card as “Wellpoint’s Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card (flex card),” “issued by The Bancorp Bank N.A.” (Wellpoint: Member OTC benefits) The card is administered by NationsBenefits, whose Wellpoint FAQ says: “You can access your card balance 24/7/365 by going online at MyBenefits.NationsBenefits.com or on the Benefits Pro app.” To activate, call 1-866-413-2582. (NationsBenefits: Wellpoint FAQ) Amounts depend on your plan; check your Summary of Benefits or member handbook. Wellpoint says, “Unused benefit allowances do not roll over monthly or annually.” (Wellpoint: Flex card) For dental benefits, see Wellpoint dental.

EmblemHealth OTC balance and ordering

EmblemHealth Medicare members can order OTC items two ways: through Convey Benefits at conveybenefits.com/emblemhealth (855-858-5940) or through CVS OTC Home Delivery at mybenefitscenter.com (833-875-1816). EmblemHealth’s Medicare Connect Concierge is 877-344-7364 (TTY 711). (EmblemHealth: OTC items) To check your EmblemHealth OTC balance, sign in to the ordering site your plan uses or call its number. EmblemHealth says unused amounts don’t roll over.

Examples (2026): EmblemHealth VIP Value (HMO-POS) in several upstate New York counties listed “$80 per quarter” for OTC items, VIP Dual and VIP Dual Enhanced listed $40 a month in some counties, and VIP Dual Reserve listed $80 a month. (EmblemHealth 2026 plan page; EmblemHealth Medicare Advantage plans) 2027: the 2027 plan summaries EmblemHealth has posted so far (VIP Value, Saver, Gold, Gold Plus and Core) don’t list an OTC allowance. Check your plan’s 2027 Summary of Benefits or call the Concierge before you count on one.

CDPHP OTC benefit ends in 2027

CDPHP’s individual Medicare Advantage plans don’t include an OTC allowance in 2027. The Choice Rx (HMO) 2027 Annual Notice of Change says the 2026 benefit was a “$50 allowance per quarter on a prepaid Benefits Mastercard” and lists it as “Not covered” for 2027. (CDPHP Choice Rx 2027 ANOC) The 2027 Core (HMO) Summary of Benefits has no OTC allowance; instead its flex card gives $1,000 a year for dental and $250 a year for eyewear. (CDPHP Core 2027 Summary of Benefits) In 2026, CDPHP had listed $25 a quarter on Core and $50 a quarter on Choice Rx. (CDPHP 2026 Medicare Advantage options) Check your CDPHP flex card balance at member.cdphp.com or 1-888-248-6522 (TTY 711); activate it at 833-647-9633. (CDPHP: Prepaid benefits card)

Healthfirst OTC Plus card (2027)

Healthfirst’s OTC Plus card covers OTC items and, on some plans, exercise equipment and activity trackers. For 2027, Healthfirst lists “$256 per month allowance” on its CompleteCare (HMO D-SNP) plan. (Healthfirst CompleteCare) Check your balance by texting BAL to HF4YOU (434968), in the Healthfirst NY app or at MyHFNY.org; activate at 1-833-684-8472. (Healthfirst: OTC benefits)

Other 2027 OTC Plus amounts Healthfirst lists: Life Improvement $180 a month, Connection $45 (down from $55), Increased Benefits $35 and 65 Plus $10 (down from $25). Unused balances expire at the end of each month. (Healthfirst: OTC benefits)

What you can buy with an OTC food card

Every plan has its own approved list, but typical eligible items are:

• OTC health items: pain relievers, cold and allergy medicine, first-aid supplies, dental care, vitamins and some home health items such as thermometers
• Healthy food (eligible members only): usually fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, dairy and other foods that meet the plan’s nutrition rules

Food, utilities and similar extras are “special supplemental benefits for the chronically ill” (SSBCI). Only members with a qualifying chronic condition who meet the plan’s criteria can use the card for them. Under CMS’s 2027 rule, plans must post their SSBCI eligibility criteria, and benefit cards must be linked to plan-covered items through a real-time check and limited to the plan year. (CMS: CY 2027 final rule) For more, see our OTC card guide and Medicare grocery benefit.

Rollover and expiration

Rollover depends on the plan. Some plans, such as Wellcare Spendables and Humana’s Healthy Options Allowance, let monthly money roll over until December 31. Others, including Wellpoint, EmblemHealth and Healthfirst, say unused money expires at the end of each month or quarter. Under CMS’s 2027 rule, card balances are limited to the specific plan year, so 2026 money won’t carry into 2027.

How to choose a plan with an OTC food card for 2027

During Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7, 2026), compare the OTC amount and how often it renews, but look first at doctors, drugs, premiums and the out-of-pocket maximum. Our guide to Medicare Advantage plans with OTC benefits explains how to find them on Medicare.gov. Be careful with ads promising a “flex card” or “$900 grocery benefit” to everyone; see the truth about Medicare flex cards. If you have Medicaid, read does Medicaid give you an OTC card and Medicaid OTC benefits by plan.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Amerigroup benefits prepaid card?

It’s now the Wellpoint Benefits Mastercard Prepaid Card. Check the balance at MyBenefits.NationsBenefits.com or in the Benefits Pro app, and activate it at 1-866-413-2582.

How do I check my EmblemHealth OTC balance?

Sign in to the ordering site your plan uses: Convey Benefits (conveybenefits.com/emblemhealth, 855-858-5940) or CVS OTC Home Delivery (mybenefitscenter.com, 833-875-1816).

What is the CDPHP OTC benefit?

In 2026, some CDPHP Medicare Advantage plans loaded an OTC allowance on a prepaid Benefits Mastercard ($25 a quarter on Core, $50 on Choice Rx). For 2027, CDPHP’s individual plans don’t include an OTC allowance; Core’s flex card covers dental and eyewear instead.

Can everyone with Medicare get an OTC food card?

No. Original Medicare doesn’t offer one. OTC allowances come with some Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans, and food is only for members who qualify for special supplemental benefits.

How do I check my OTC card balance?

Use the website, app or phone number on the back of your card. Our OTC balance guide lists the main options.

This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by any insurer named here or any U.S. government agency. Benefits vary by plan and county; check your Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage, or call the number on your member ID card.

Sources

• Wellpoint: Member OTC benefits
• NationsBenefits: Wellpoint FAQ
• Elevance Health: Amerigroup renamed Wellpoint
• EmblemHealth: Over-the-counter items
• EmblemHealth: Medicare Advantage plans (2026 and 2027)
• CDPHP: Choice Rx 2027 Annual Notice of Change
• CDPHP: Core (HMO) 2027 Summary of Benefits
• Wellpoint: Medicare flex card
• Healthfirst: OTC benefits (2027 amounts)
• CDPHP: 2026 Medicare Advantage options brochure
• CDPHP: Prepaid benefits card
• Healthfirst: OTC benefits
• Healthfirst: CompleteCare plan
• CMS: Contract Year 2027 final rule