How to Apply for an OTC Card With Medicaid: 4 Steps for 2027

Reviewed October 26, 2026. You don’t apply for a Medicaid OTC card on its own. The over-the-counter (OTC) allowance comes from your Medicaid health plan, so you get it by qualifying for Medicaid, joining a managed care plan that offers an OTC benefit, and then ordering from that plan’s catalog or activating its card. There’s no separate government OTC card and no separate online application for one.

Quick answer: 1) Apply for Medicaid through your state Medicaid agency or HealthCare.gov. 2) Once approved, choose (or check) your Medicaid health plan, and compare each plan’s extra benefits, because OTC allowances are plan extras, not a standard Medicaid benefit. 3) Use the plan’s OTC catalog, website or app, often run by CVS OTC Health Solutions, to place orders. If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) may offer a larger allowance for 2027.

Step 1: Apply for Medicaid (online, by phone or in person)

HealthCare.gov says you can apply for Medicaid and CHIP in one of two ways: “Fill out an application through the Marketplace” or “Apply directly through your state Medicaid agency.” Most state agencies also take applications online, by phone, by mail or at a local office. You’ll usually need proof of identity, income, household size and residency.

If you’re not sure whether you’re already covered, or you’re waiting on a decision, see how to check your Medicaid status. You can’t get a plan’s OTC benefit until your Medicaid coverage and plan enrollment are active.

Step 2: Choose a Medicaid plan that includes an OTC benefit

In most states, Medicaid members get their care through a managed care organization (MCO), sometimes called a health plan or care management organization. These plans can add “value-added” or “expanded” benefits, and an OTC allowance is one of the most common. The amount, the items covered and how you order are set by each plan, and they can change each contract year.

Examples from plans’ own 2026 pages:

Some plans offer no OTC allowance at all. CareSource Georgia, for example, lists rewards programs instead. For more plans and states, see our guide to Medicaid OTC benefits.

To compare plans, look at each plan’s member handbook or “extra benefits” page, or ask your state’s enrollment broker or Medicaid helpline for a plan comparison chart. Don’t choose a plan for the OTC benefit alone: check that your doctors, pharmacy and hospital are in its network first.

Step 3: Get your OTC catalog or card

Once you’re enrolled, the plan tells you how its OTC benefit works. There are three common setups:

• Catalog orders: you order approved items online, by phone or by mail, and they’re shipped to your home. Many Medicaid plans use CVS Health’s OTC Health Solutions for this.
• In-store pickup: some plans let you shop at participating CVS stores by showing your member ID card or a digital barcode in the OTC Health Solutions app. Not every CVS takes part.
• A prepaid benefit card: some plans, especially D-SNPs, load the allowance onto a card you swipe at participating retailers.

For plans that use CVS OTC Health Solutions, you usually create an online account at cvs.com/benefits using your member ID, date of birth and ZIP code. Aetna Better Health of Michigan, for example, lists OTC Health Solutions at 1-888-628-2770 (TTY 711) for phone orders, and Peach State and Carolina Complete Health list 1-888-262-6298 (TTY 711). Read our guide to OTC benefits at CVS for step-by-step help.

Step 4: Order on time and within your limit

Medicaid OTC allowances usually reset each month or quarter, and most don’t roll over. Aetna Better Health of Michigan says orders must be placed by 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the month. Carolina Complete Health’s home delivery benefit allows one order per calendar quarter. Some limits are per household, so everyone in the home shares one allowance; others, like Carolina Complete Health’s, are for the member only.

To see what you can buy, check your plan’s catalog. Common categories include pain relievers, cold and allergy medicine, first aid supplies, vitamins and personal care items. Our list of what you can get with an OTC card covers the usual categories.

Can I apply for a Medicaid OTC card online?

You can apply for Medicaid online through your state agency or HealthCare.gov, and you can usually choose your health plan online too. But there’s no online application for the OTC card itself. Once you’re a plan member, the “online” part is creating your account on the plan’s OTC ordering site and placing orders there. Be wary of ads or callers offering a “free government OTC card” if you share your Medicaid or Medicare number; plans don’t sell their benefits that way.

How to switch to a Medicaid plan with a better OTC benefit

Federal rules let Medicaid managed care members change plans without giving a reason:

• During the 90 days after your first enrollment in the plan.
• At least once every 12 months after that, usually during your state’s annual open enrollment.
• At any time “for cause,” such as when a plan doesn’t cover a service you need for moral or religious reasons or you’ve had poor quality care.

These rules come from 42 CFR 438.56. Your state sets the exact dates and process, so call your state’s Medicaid enrollment line or check your annual enrollment notice.

If you have both Medicare and Medicaid

If you’re “dual eligible,” you may be able to join a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP), a Medicare Advantage plan built for people with both programs. CMS says Medicare Advantage plans “may offer OTC items as a supplemental benefit,” and D-SNP allowances are often larger than Medicaid plan allowances. Community DualCare Access in Texas, for example, listed up to $100 a month for approved OTC items in its 2026 Summary of Benefits. Check your plan’s 2027 Summary of Benefits for next year’s amount.

Since 2025, full-benefit dual eligibles can use a monthly special enrollment period to join an integrated D-SNP that is aligned with their Medicaid plan, and duals and people with Extra Help can switch to Original Medicare with a standalone drug plan once a month. Open Enrollment for 2027 Medicare plans also runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. For more, see Medicare Advantage plans with OTC benefits and what an OTC card is.

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for an OTC card with Medicaid?

You don’t apply for the card separately. Enroll in Medicaid, join a Medicaid health plan that offers an OTC allowance, then order through the plan’s OTC catalog, website or app.

Can I apply for a Medicaid OTC card online?

You can apply for Medicaid online through your state Medicaid agency or HealthCare.gov. After you’re enrolled in a plan, you set up your OTC account online with the plan’s vendor, such as cvs.com/benefits for plans that use CVS OTC Health Solutions.

Does every Medicaid plan have an OTC benefit?

No. OTC allowances are extras that each plan chooses to offer. Some Medicaid plans have none, and amounts differ from plan to plan.

How do I use my Medicaid OTC benefits?

Order approved items from your plan’s catalog online, by phone or by mail, or shop at participating stores if your plan allows it. Order before the monthly or quarterly deadline, because unused money usually doesn’t roll over.

How do I check my Medicaid OTC balance?

Sign in to your plan’s OTC ordering site or app, or call the OTC phone number in your catalog. See how to check your OTC card balance.

Can I get a bigger OTC allowance if I also have Medicare?

Often, yes. Many D-SNPs for people with Medicare and Medicaid include OTC allowances, and some add grocery or utility money for members who qualify. Compare 2027 plans before December 7, 2026.

This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by any state Medicaid agency, Medicaid health plan, CVS Health or any U.S. government agency. Benefits vary by state and plan; check your member handbook or call the number on your member ID card.

Sources

• HealthCare.gov: Medicaid and CHIP coverage
• eCFR: 42 CFR 438.56, disenrollment requirements and limitations
• Sunshine Health: OTC catalog (2026)
• Humana Healthy Horizons in Florida: Expanded benefits
• Peach State Health Plan: Over-the-counter items
• Aetna Better Health of Michigan: OTC benefit
• Carolina Complete Health: OTC catalog
• CMS: Medicare Managed Care Manual, Chapter 4 (supplemental benefits)
• Community Health Choice: Community DualCare Access 2026 Summary of Benefits
• CMS: Dual and LIS special enrollment periods job aid (2025)