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Medicaid Benefits Card: How to Get, Use and Replace Yours

By Modinul Islam Khan Updated October 28, 2026

Reviewed October 28, 2026. A Medicaid benefits card is the ID card your state Medicaid agency mails you after you’re approved. You show it, with any health plan card you have, each time you get care. If you’re in a Medicaid managed care plan, the plan sends its own member ID card too, and some plans add a separate rewards or OTC card that carries dollars for health items.

Quick answer: Your state, not the federal government, issues the Medicaid card. Its name varies: New York calls it a Benefit Identification Card, California a Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Card (BIC), Texas the Your Texas Benefits Medicaid card, Florida a gold plastic Medicaid ID card, Pennsylvania an ACCESS card and Illinois a Medical Card. To replace a lost card, call your state’s Medicaid line or sign in to your state benefits account. Many states let you print a temporary card online. Keep your card even if your coverage ends.

The three kinds of Medicaid cards

Card	Who issues it	What it’s for
State Medicaid ID card (the “benefits card”)	Your state Medicaid agency	Proves you have Medicaid; used for services your plan doesn’t cover
Health plan member ID card	Your Medicaid managed care plan (MCO)	Used at doctors, hospitals and pharmacies in the plan’s network
Rewards or OTC card	Some Medicaid plans	Holds reward dollars or an over-the-counter allowance; not an ID card

SNAP food benefits are separate. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says SNAP is delivered through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards in every state. In New York City, one card does both jobs: the city’s Human Resources Administration says “an EBT card is also called a Common Benefit Identification Card (CBIC),” and it’s also your Medicaid ID. In other states, such as Illinois (Medical Card vs. LINK card), they can be different cards.

Medicaid benefits card by state

State	Card name	How to replace it
New York	Benefit Identification Card (CBIC in New York City)	NY State of Health 1-855-355-5777; NYC HRA Medicaid Helpline 1-888-692-6116; outside NYC, your local Department of Social Services
California	Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Card (BIC)	Your county social services office; once a new BIC is sent, the old one can’t be used
Texas	Your Texas Benefits Medicaid card	YourTexasBenefits.com, 2-1-1 (then Option 2, then Option 1) or 1-855-827-3748; you can print a temporary card online
Florida	Gold plastic Medicaid ID card	Print a temporary card in your MyACCESS account; Medicaid Help Line 1-877-254-1055
Pennsylvania	ACCESS card	1-877-395-8930 (Philadelphia: 1-215-560-7226)
Illinois	Medical Card (annual paper card)	DHS 1-800-843-6154 or HFS 1-800-226-0768 (TTY 1-877-204-1012); no charge
Ohio	Managed care plan ID card	Contact your plan; Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline 1-800-324-8680

Sources: state Medicaid agency pages listed at the end of this article, checked October 2026.

Florida’s Department of Children and Families says it “takes approximately 2-3 weeks to get a Medicaid card after your case is approved,” and tells members, “If your Medicaid eligibility stops, keep the card.” Illinois says the same about its paper card. If you’re not sure your coverage is active, see how to check your Medicaid status.

How to get your Medicaid card

Apply. Apply through your state Medicaid agency or HealthCare.gov. If HealthCare.gov finds you may qualify, it says “we’ll send your information to your state agency,” and the state finishes your enrollment.
Get approved. Your state sends a notice, then mails the card.
Choose a plan if your state uses managed care. Your plan mails its own member ID card. Ohio, for example, tells members they “should have received your new member ID card in the mail from your managed care plan.”
Carry both cards. New York explains that “people in managed care plans use their Medicaid benefit card to get those services that the plan does not cover.”

Medicaid plan rewards and OTC cards

Many Medicaid plans add a benefit card with dollars you can spend. These cards don’t prove you have coverage, and what they hold depends on your state and plan. Some examples:

Plan	Card	What it holds
Sunshine Health (Florida) and other Centene plans	My Health Pays Visa Prepaid Card	Rewards for checkups and screenings, such as $25 for an annual well-child visit at Sunshine Health; usable for utilities, rent, transportation and everyday items at Walmart, but not alcohol, tobacco or firearms
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Kansas (2026)	OTC Network reloadable card	Value-added rewards, such as $100 for a first-trimester prenatal visit
Humana Healthy Horizons in Florida (2026)	Catalog order, no store card	Up to $65 of health and wellness products per quarter, per household
Molina Healthcare of Nevada (2025)	Quarterly OTC benefit	$30 per member household, per quarter

Examples only. Amounts change each year and differ by state and plan; check your plan’s member handbook.

To learn what these allowances cover and how to sign up, read Medicaid OTC benefits and how to apply for an OTC card with Medicaid. Plan-specific guides cover Sunshine Health OTC, Humana Medicaid OTC and Molina OTC.

If you have Medicare and Medicaid

People with both programs keep both cards. Medicare’s Qualified Medicare Beneficiary fact sheet tells members to show “both your Medicare and Medicaid cards (or QMB Program card) each time you get care.” If you join a Medicare Advantage plan, including a dual special needs plan (D-SNP), Medicare says, “You’ll use your plan’s card to get services, not your Medicare card,” but keep the Medicare card in a safe place. Learn more in dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid and Medicaid vs. Medicare.

Protect your Medicaid card from scams

CMS advises: “Treat your Medicaid number the way you treat your Social Security number—do not loan or sell it to anyone,” and “Only share your Medicaid card or number with a Medicaid provider who is providing you services.” It warns about door-to-door or phone salespeople who ask for your Medicaid card or number. The Federal Trade Commission adds that “the real Medicaid program won’t ask for money or personal information like your credit card or bank account number.” Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or to your state Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Medicaid benefits card?

It’s the ID card your state issues to show you have Medicaid. Providers use it to check your coverage and bill Medicaid.

Is the Medicaid card the same as an EBT card?

Usually not. SNAP food benefits go on an EBT card. New York City is an exception, where the Common Benefit Identification Card works for both.

How long does it take to get a Medicaid card?

It depends on the state. Florida says about 2 to 3 weeks after approval. Until it arrives, many states let you print a temporary card from your online account.

How do I replace a lost Medicaid card?

Call your state Medicaid agency or sign in to your state benefits account. See the state table above for phone numbers in seven states.

Do I need my Medicaid card if I have a health plan card?

Yes. Bring both. Your plan card covers in-network care, and your Medicaid card covers services your plan doesn’t.

Can I use my Medicaid card to buy groceries?

No. A Medicaid ID card isn’t a payment card. Some Medicaid plans offer food or OTC allowances on a separate card, and SNAP benefits use an EBT card.

This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by any state Medicaid agency, health plan or U.S. government agency. Rules and phone numbers can change; confirm with your state Medicaid office.