AARP OTC Catalog 2027: How the UnitedHealthcare OTC Credit Works
Reviewed October 10, 2026. The AARP OTC catalog for 2027 is the list of over-the-counter products you can buy with the OTC credit on an AARP Medicare Advantage plan from UnitedHealthcare. For 2027, UnitedHealthcare shows covered products online in UCard Hub and the UnitedHealthcare app rather than in a printed booklet, and you spend the credit with a new Mastercard-backed UCard at more than 70,000 participating stores or online.
Quick answer: Sign in to your UnitedHealthcare member account or app, open UCard Hub and browse covered products by category, brand or price. Your 2027 OTC credit depends on your plan. On the four AARP plans we checked, 2027 credits stayed the same, dropped or ended: $50 per quarter on TX-27, $25 per quarter on VA-18 and NC-15, and no OTC coverage on FL-0026. Unused credits expire.
Is there an AARP OTC catalog for 2027?
AARP Medicare Advantage plans are insured by UnitedHealthcare, so the “AARP OTC catalog” is UnitedHealthcare’s OTC product list. UnitedHealthcare tells members to sign in to UCard Hub or the UnitedHealthcare app and “search for covered products by category, brand or price.” As of October 10, 2026, we didn’t find a printed or PDF 2027 OTC catalog for AARP plans on UnitedHealthcare’s website, and its member pages don’t describe ordering OTC items by phone. The online product list is the catalog.
Your 2027 products and credit amounts become available when your 2027 coverage starts on January 1, 2027. Until December 31, 2026, keep using your current UCard and the 2026 product list. For 2026 shopping, see our UnitedHealthcare OTC catalog 2026 guide.
What’s new for 2027: a separate ID card and a Mastercard UCard
UnitedHealthcare announced these changes with its 2027 plans on October 1, 2026:
- Two cards: “New for 2027, UnitedHealthcare individual Medicare Advantage plan members will receive a separate member ID card.” The UCard is then used only for benefit credits and rewards.
- Mastercard: “Your new UCard will be backed by Mastercard,” with enhanced security.
- Timing: both cards arrive by mail before the plan year starts, and you keep using your current card through December 31, 2026.
- Rewards: a rewards balance left at the end of 2026 “will be available to spend with your new UCard,” and you can lock and unlock your rewards balance.
- Group plans: for group Medicare Advantage plans that offer a UCard, the UCard remains your member ID card.
Read more in our guide to the UnitedHealthcare UCard and its 2027 changes.
2027 AARP OTC credit: plan examples
These amounts come from UnitedHealthcare’s 2027 and 2026 plan details pages. They’re examples only; your plan may differ, so check your 2027 Annual Notice of Change and Summary of Benefits.
| Plan (contract ID) | 2026 OTC credit | 2027 OTC credit |
|---|---|---|
| AARP Medicare Advantage Extras from UHC TX-27 (HMO-POS), H0609-061-000 | $50 per quarter | $50 per quarter |
| AARP Medicare Advantage Extras from UHC VA-18 (PPO), H2406-125-000 (2026 name: VA-0018) | $55 per quarter | $25 per quarter, plus rewards up to $155 |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-15 (HMO-POS), H5253-117-000 (2026 name: NC-0015) | $45 per quarter | $25 per quarter |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC FL-0026 (PPO), H2406-018-000 | $25 per quarter | No OTC coverage; rewards up to $155 |
Some UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete plans (D-SNPs) for people with Medicare and Medicaid have much larger combined credits. For example, UHC Dual Complete NY-YL goes from $310 a month in 2026 to $425 a month in 2027, according to its Annual Notice of Change. If your income is limited, see Medicaid vs. Medicare to learn whether you might qualify for both.
What you can buy with your AARP OTC credit
AARP plan pages describe the OTC credit as covering “vitamins, pain relievers, first aid supplies and more.” Typical categories include:
- Pain relievers and cold, flu and allergy medicine
- Vitamins and supplements
- First aid supplies
- Digestive health products
- Oral care, such as toothpaste and denture care
- Incontinence supplies
Exactly which categories and brands are covered depends on your plan, so check UCard Hub before you shop. Prescription drugs aren’t part of the OTC benefit; they go through your plan’s Part D coverage.
Food and utilities in 2027 need verification
On plans where the credit can also be used for healthy food and utilities, UnitedHealthcare says: “For 2027, verification of a qualifying chronic condition and more complex health needs will be required to spend your OTC credit on healthy food and utilities.” Verification applies only to UnitedHealthcare, so if you change carriers you’ll need to be verified again. UnitedHealthcare’s UCard and verification line is 1-833-301-2052 (TTY 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week.
UnitedHealthcare also explains how credits load: plans with only an OTC benefit load quarterly, and plans that combine OTC with healthy food (and utilities) load monthly. See our guide to the UnitedHealthcare healthy food benefit for the food side.
How to use the 2027 AARP OTC catalog, step by step
- Watch your mail for your new 2027 member ID card and Mastercard UCard, and activate the UCard as instructed.
- Sign in to your UnitedHealthcare member account or the UnitedHealthcare app.
- Open UCard Hub to see your OTC balance and when it renews.
- Browse covered products by category, brand or price.
- Shop in store by swiping your UCard or scanning the digital UCard barcode at a participating store, or shop online through UCard Hub.
- Use your credit before it expires. UnitedHealthcare says “funds expire”; your Evidence of Coverage lists the timeframe.
Where to use your AARP UCard
UnitedHealthcare says you can shop at “more than 70,000 participating stores nationwide,” including Walmart, Walgreens, Dollar General and Target, and its Store Finder lists the rest. See our guides to what stores accept the UnitedHealthcare OTC card and where to use your UnitedHealthcare OTC card, and learn how to check an OTC card balance.
Why CMS rules matter for 2027 cards
CMS’s 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D final rule, released April 2, 2026, requires supplemental benefit debit cards to be “electronically linked to plan-covered items and services through a real-time identification mechanism” and “limited to the specific plan year.” That’s one reason 2027 cards check eligible items at the register and credits don’t carry into the next year. The rule also requires plans to post their eligibility criteria for Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI).
Comparing AARP plans for 2027
Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. The OTC credit is one benefit to weigh; premiums, doctors, drug coverage and the out-of-pocket maximum usually matter more. Also compare UnitedHealthcare dental, vision and Renew Active fitness, and read our overview of AARP Medicare Advantage plans.
If you’re reviewing your Medicare options for 2027, Medicare365 can help you compare Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and prescription drug options.
Contact Medicare365 to schedule a free Medicare consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find the AARP OTC catalog 2027?
In UCard Hub or the UnitedHealthcare app once you sign in. UnitedHealthcare lists covered products online rather than in a printed 2027 booklet.
How much is the AARP OTC allowance in 2027?
It depends on the plan. TX-27 (H0609-061) lists $50 per quarter, VA-18 (H2406-125) and NC-15 (H5253-117) list $25 per quarter, and FL-0026 (H2406-018) has no OTC coverage in 2027.
Will I get a new UCard for 2027?
Yes. Individual plan members get a separate member ID card and a new Mastercard-backed UCard by mail before January 1, 2027.
Does my AARP OTC credit roll over?
UnitedHealthcare says credits expire, and CMS’s 2027 rule limits benefit cards to the plan year. Check your Evidence of Coverage for your plan’s timeframe.
Can I use my AARP OTC credit for groceries in 2027?
Only if your plan includes healthy food and you’re verified for a qualifying chronic condition. Call 1-833-301-2052 to ask about verification.
Can I order AARP OTC products by phone?
UnitedHealthcare’s member pages describe shopping online or in stores. For help, call the number on the back of your UCard or member ID card.
This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by UnitedHealthcare, AARP or any U.S. government agency. Benefits vary by plan and county; check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage or call the number on your member ID card.
Sources
- UnitedHealthcare: UCard changes for 2027
- UnitedHealthcare: 2027 Medicare Advantage plans (October 1, 2026)
- UnitedHealthcare: Food, OTC and utility bill credit
- UnitedHealthcare: OTC, healthy food and utility benefit changes FAQ
- UnitedHealthcare: UCard
- UnitedHealthcare: AARP Medicare Advantage Extras from UHC TX-27 (HMO-POS) 2027
- UnitedHealthcare: AARP Medicare Advantage Extras from UHC VA-18 (PPO) 2027
- UnitedHealthcare: AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-15 (HMO-POS) 2027
- UnitedHealthcare: AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC FL-0026 (PPO) 2027
- UnitedHealthcare: UHC Dual Complete NY-YL 2027 Annual Notice of Change
- CMS: Contract Year 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D final rule