Essence Healthcare OTC and Flex Card 2027: Amounts by Plan
Reviewed October 21, 2026. Essence Healthcare puts its extra benefits on one card, the Essence Healthcare Preloaded Flexible Benefits Card, or Flex Card. It holds a shared allowance for non-Medicare-covered dental, vision and hearing care and, on plans that include it, a separate OTC allowance. For 2027, Essence Advantage Select, an HMO, in the Chicago area includes a $2,500 Flex Card allowance and $20 a quarter for OTC items.
Quick answer: Essence OTC dollars can be used at stores such as Walgreens, Walmart, CVS and Costco, or online through the Essence OTC Store. You check your balance in the Essence Flex Spend app. Not every Essence plan has an OTC allowance or a Flex Card, and amounts vary by plan and county, so check your plan’s Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage.
How the Essence Healthcare Flex Card works
| Feature | What Essence Healthcare says |
|---|---|
| Card name | Essence Healthcare Preloaded Flexible Benefits Card (Flex Card) |
| Dental, vision and hearing | Shared allowance for non-Medicare-covered items and services, such as eyewear, hearing aids, X-rays, fillings and crowns |
| Providers | In or out of network |
| OTC | Separate allowance on some plans, on the same card |
| Where to use OTC dollars | Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, Costco and other retailers, or the online Essence OTC Store |
| Balance | Essence Flex Spend mobile app, which can also scan OTC items |
| Limits | Not a credit card; can’t be turned into cash or used for premiums |
Source: Essence Healthcare: Flex Card. Approved products are listed in Essence’s Summary of Approved OTC Items, last updated September 15, 2026.
Essence Healthcare 2027 plans in the Chicago area
Essence’s 2027 Chicago plan sheet lists four plans in Cook, DuPage and Will counties, Illinois; the HMO also covers Kane and Kendall counties, which are new for 2027.
| 2027 plan | Monthly premium | Flex Card allowance per year | OTC allowance | Hearing aids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essence Advantage Select, HMO | $0 | $2,500 | $20 per quarter | $1,000 allowance for up to 2 aids every 2 years |
| Essence Advantage Choice, PPO | $0 | $650 | Not listed | $1,000 every 2 years |
| Essence Advantage Choice Plus, PPO | $49 | $1,900 | $20 per quarter | $1,000 every 2 years |
| Essence Advantage Premier Plus, PPO | $267 | Not covered | Not listed | $1,000 every 2 years |
Source: Essence Healthcare 2027 Chicago plan information. The same sheet lists 2027 out-of-pocket maximums of $2,900 for Select, an HMO, and $4,450 in network for Choice (PPO), a $300 drug deductible for tiers 4 and 5 on Select, and a $700 deductible for tiers 3 to 5 on the PPO plans.
Vision and fitness in 2027
The Select HMO includes a $0 routine eye exam and a $200 eyewear allowance a year; Choice and Choice Plus include $175 a year. All four plans include SilverSneakers. For how fitness programs compare, see Silver&Fit vs SilverSneakers.
Essence Healthcare in St. Louis: 2026 vs 2027
Essence’s October 15, 2026 announcement says select 2027 St. Louis plans offer Flex Card benefits of “up to $2,900,” and that Costco joins its preferred retail pharmacy network, where eligible OTC Flex Card dollars can also be used. Plan-level 2027 St. Louis amounts weren’t in the release, so here are the 2026 amounts from Essence’s St. Louis plan sheet for comparison:
| 2026 St. Louis plan | Monthly premium | Flex Card allowance per year | OTC allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essence Advantage Select, HMO | $0 | $2,900 | $40 per quarter |
| Essence Advantage, HMO | $0 | $250 | $45 per quarter |
| Essence Advantage Plus, HMO | $59 | $2,000 | $40 per quarter |
| Essence Advantage Choice, PPO | $0 | $1,840 | Not listed |
| Essence Advantage Premier Plus, PPO | $254 | Not covered | Not listed |
Sources: Essence Healthcare 2027 St. Louis announcement and Essence 2026 St. Louis plan information. If you’re in a St. Louis plan now, compare your 2027 Annual Notice of Change with these 2026 figures.
Essence says its plans are available in Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Indiana and Kentucky, with HMO and PPO options and premiums starting at $0.
Essence Healthcare Medicare Advantage plans: HMO or PPO?
Essence sells both HMO and PPO plans. With an HMO, such as Essence Advantage Select, you generally use doctors in the plan’s network, and the 2027 Chicago sheet shows a $0 premium, a $2,900 out-of-pocket maximum and the largest Flex Card. With a PPO, such as Essence Advantage Choice, you can also see out-of-network providers, usually at a higher cost, and the 2027 maximums are higher: $4,450 in network and $6,450 combined. Essence’s announcements say all major St. Louis health systems are in its network for 2027, and that about 98% of covered drugs stay on the formulary. Check that your own doctors and medicines are covered before you choose.
Essence Healthcare OTC: what you can buy
Essence describes eligible OTC items as health-related products such as pain relievers, vitamins and first aid supplies. The Summary of Approved OTC Items is the official list, and it can change during the year. Your OTC allowance is separate from your dental, vision and hearing allowance, even though both are on the same card, so OTC purchases don’t reduce your dental money.
Essence Healthcare OTC login and balance
- Get the app. Download the Essence Flex Spend app to check your balance and scan items in a store.
- Sign in to your member account. Essence’s member portal and MyEssence app show your plan details.
- Shop. Use the card at participating stores or order through the online Essence OTC Store.
- Call if you need help. Essence lists 1-866-509-5398 (TTY 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
More help: OTC benefits login by plan and how to check your OTC card balance. If you shop at CVS, see CVS OTC benefits.
Is an Essence plan right for you in 2027?
An OTC allowance of $20 a quarter is small, so the Flex Card, network and drug costs usually matter more. During Medicare Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, compare these with other plans in your county. Our guide to Medicare Advantage plans with OTC benefits explains how to find plans with larger allowances, and what an OTC card is covers the basics.
Frequently asked questions
Does Essence Healthcare have an OTC benefit in 2027?
Some plans do. In the Chicago area, the Essence Advantage Select HMO and Choice Plus PPO list $20 a quarter for OTC items in 2027; Choice (PPO) and Premier Plus (PPO) don’t list one.
What is the Essence Healthcare flex card?
It’s a preloaded card for non-Medicare-covered dental, vision and hearing costs, and OTC items on plans that include them. You can use it with providers in or out of network.
How much is the Essence flex card for 2027?
It depends on the plan. In Chicago, it’s $2,500 on the Select HMO, $1,900 on the Choice Plus PPO and $650 on the Choice PPO. Essence says select St. Louis plans offer up to $2,900.
Where can I use my Essence OTC card?
At retailers including Walgreens, Walmart, CVS and Costco, or online through the Essence OTC Store.
Is there an Essence Healthcare OTC catalog?
Essence publishes a Summary of Approved OTC Items. Use the version for your plan year, and check the Flex Spend app to see whether an item is approved.
How do I check my Essence Healthcare OTC balance?
Use the Essence Flex Spend app or call Essence at 1-866-509-5398 (TTY 711).
This article is general information, not plan-specific advice. Benefits vary by plan and county; check your plan’s Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage. Medicare365 is not affiliated with Essence Healthcare or the U.S. government.
Official sources
- Essence Healthcare: Flex Card
- Essence Healthcare 2027 Chicago plan information
- Essence Healthcare 2026 St. Louis plan information
- Essence Healthcare announces 2027 plans for St. Louis (October 15, 2026)
- Essence Healthcare announces 2027 plans for Chicago (October 15, 2026)
- Medicare.gov: Medicare Plan Finder