Tufts Health Plan Food Allowance: 2026 Amounts and 2027 Update
Updated October 26, 2026. The Tufts Health Plan food allowance is part of Tufts Health Plan Senior Care Options (SCO), the plan for Massachusetts residents with both Medicare and MassHealth. For 2026, SCO members get $235 each calendar quarter for food, beverages and other personal care items on their Instant Savings card, plus a separate $115 a quarter for over-the-counter (OTC) health items. Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO and PPO plans include an OTC allowance but not a food allowance.
Quick answer: If you’re in Tufts Health Plan SCO, your grocery money loads in January, April, July and October and doesn’t carry over to the next quarter. Check your balance at thpmp.org/mybenefitscenter, in the OTC Network app or at 1-888-682-2400. Tufts hadn’t posted 2027 SCO amounts on its plan documents page when we checked, so confirm next year’s figures in your 2027 Annual Notice of Change.
Which Tufts plans have a food allowance?
| Plan | Food allowance (2026) | OTC allowance (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Tufts Health Plan Senior Care Options (SCO, D-SNP) | $235 per quarter for food, beverages and personal care items (MassHealth allowance) | $115 per quarter for OTC medicines and health items (Medicare allowance) |
| Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO Smart Saver Rx | None listed | $75 per quarter |
| Tufts Medicare Preferred RX (PPO) | None listed | $20 per quarter |
Sources: Point32Health’s 2026 SCO and Tufts Medicare Preferred benefit change summaries and Tufts’ 2026 SCO OTC guide. Tufts’ OTC page for its Medicare Advantage plans says food and beverages aren’t covered. Point32Health also removed post-hospital meals from Tufts Medicare Preferred plans for 2026.
How the SCO Instant Savings card works
Point32Health says, “Members will receive two separate allowances on their Instant Savings OTC card”: a Medicare allowance for health-related OTC items and a separate MassHealth (Medicaid) allowance that “will cover groceries and personal care items.” The two allowances can’t be combined, and unused balances expire at the end of each quarter.
What changed for 2026: a 2023 SCO brochure listed $128 per quarter for Medicare OTC items and $150 per quarter for MassHealth OTC and groceries. The 2026 split is $115 for OTC and $235 for food and personal care.
Where to use your Tufts food allowance
- In stores: swipe your Instant Savings card at a participating retailer. Find stores at thpmp.org/mybenefitscenter.
- Online: Tufts’ 2026 guide lists CVS Health and Medline, which show only eligible items, plus Walmart.com and Walgreens.com, where you pay for non-eligible items another way. Walmart.com and Walgreens.com may charge shipping; in-store pickup avoids it.
- By phone: Medline at 1-833-569-2330 (TTY 711), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., or CVS Health at 1-833-875-1816, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
For tips on store and online use, see using OTC benefits at Walmart and Walgreens OTC benefits.
How to check your Tufts food allowance balance
- Website: thpmp.org/mybenefitscenter
- App: the OTC Network mobile app
- Phone: 1-888-682-2400
Spend both balances before the quarter ends, because they don’t carry over. More help: how to check your OTC card balance.
Tufts Health Together (MassHealth) nutrition supports
Tufts Health Together is a MassHealth (Medicaid) plan, not a Medicare plan. The 2026 covered-services list for Tufts Health Together with UMass Memorial Health includes Health Related Social Needs supplemental nutrition services for members who qualify, such as “Nutritionally Appropriate Food Prescriptions and Vouchers,” described as gift cards for buying healthy groceries, plus medically tailored food boxes and kitchen supplies. It doesn’t list a set monthly food allowance. Ask Tufts Health Together Member Services at 1-888-257-1985 whether you qualify.
What about 2027?
Medicare Advantage and D-SNP benefits for 2027 were published on October 1, 2026, and Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. Tufts’ plan documents page still listed 2026 documents when we checked, so we can’t confirm the 2027 SCO food amount yet. If you’re an SCO member, read the Annual Notice of Change mailed to you. If you’re comparing plans, see our Tufts Health Plan OTC catalog guide and Tufts Health Plan OTC card guide, plus our overview of the Medicare grocery benefit.
Tufts Health Plan phone numbers
| Need | Number |
|---|---|
| Tufts Health Plan SCO Member Services | 1-855-670-5934 (TTY 711) |
| Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO Member Services | 1-800-701-9000 (TTY 711) |
| Tufts Medicare Preferred PPO Member Services | 1-866-623-0172 (TTY 711) |
| SCO card balance (OTC Network) | 1-888-682-2400 |
| Tufts Health Together (MassHealth) Member Services | 1-888-257-1985 |
Tufts Medicare Preferred lines are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week (Monday to Friday from April 1 to September 30).
Frequently asked questions
Does Tufts Health Plan have a food allowance?
Yes, in Tufts Health Plan Senior Care Options (SCO): $235 per quarter in 2026 for food, beverages and personal care items. Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO and PPO plans don’t list a food allowance.
How much is the Tufts SCO grocery allowance?
$235 each calendar quarter in 2026, loaded in January, April, July and October, separate from the $115 quarterly OTC allowance.
Does the Tufts food allowance roll over?
No. Tufts says balances don’t carry over, so spend them before the quarter ends.
Where can I use my Tufts Instant Savings card?
At participating retailers in store, and online at CVS Health, Medline, Walmart.com and Walgreens.com. Check thpmp.org/mybenefitscenter for stores near you.
Who can join Tufts Health Plan SCO?
SCO is a Massachusetts plan for people 65 and older. Since January 1, 2026, MassHealth says all SCO enrollees must have both Medicare Parts A and B and MassHealth Standard. Call SCO Member Services at 1-855-670-5934 to check eligibility.
This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by Tufts Health Plan, Point32Health, MassHealth or any U.S. government agency. Benefits vary by plan and can change each year; check your Evidence of Coverage or member handbook.
Sources
- Point32Health: 2026 Tufts Health Plan SCO benefit changes
- Tufts Health Plan: 2026 SCO OTC guide
- Tufts Health Plan: 2026 SCO member handbook
- Point32Health: 2026 Tufts Medicare Preferred product changes
- Tufts Medicare Preferred: OTC health items
- Mass.gov: 2026 SCO eligibility changes
- Mass.gov: Tufts Health Plan SCO brochure (2023)
- Tufts Health Together: 2026 covered services list
- Tufts Medicare Preferred: Plan documents