CVS OTC Benefits: How to Use Your Health Plan Allowance at CVS
Reviewed October 5, 2026. CVS OTC benefits are over-the-counter allowances that many Medicare Advantage and Medicaid health plans let members spend at CVS. CVS runs these through its OTC Health Solutions program: depending on your plan, you can shop at participating CVS Pharmacy stores, order online for free home delivery, or order by phone. The allowance itself comes from your health plan, not from CVS, so the amount, how often it resets and which items qualify depend on your plan.
Quick answer: Look at your health plan’s OTC materials to find your CVS ordering website and phone number. Aetna Medicare members use CVS.com/Aetna or 1-844-428-8147. Members of many other plans sign in at cvs.com/benefits or the CVS OTC Health Solutions site using their member ID. Each plan has its own phone line, which is printed in its catalog.
How CVS OTC benefits work
- Your health plan gives you an allowance, such as a monthly or quarterly dollar amount, as an extra benefit.
- Your plan partners with CVS to provide approved OTC products through CVS OTC Health Solutions.
- You order or shop online, by phone or at a participating CVS store using your plan ID card or benefits card.
- CVS deducts the cost of approved items from your allowance.
Ways to use CVS OTC benefits
| Method | How it works | Example from a plan |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Create or sign in to your account and order approved items for home delivery | Aetna Medicare: CVS.com/Aetna. Other plans: cvs.com/benefits or the CVS OTC Health Solutions site |
| Phone | Call your plan’s OTC Health Solutions line to order with a live agent or automated system | Aetna Medicare: 1-844-428-8147. Carolina Complete Health (Medicaid): 1-888-262-6298 (TTY 711) |
| In store | Check out at the front register at a participating CVS Pharmacy with your member ID or benefit card | Most plans exclude CVS locations inside other stores, such as Target |
Sources: Aetna, Carolina Complete Health and a Medicare Advantage plan’s CVS OTC instructions. Use the phone number in your own plan’s catalog, because each plan has a different line.
CVS OTC benefits login
To create a CVS OTC benefits account, plans typically ask for your member ID, date of birth, ZIP code and email address. Aetna Medicare members register at CVS.com/Aetna with their member ID and email. If you can’t log in, call your plan’s OTC phone line or Member Services rather than using a search result, so you don’t land on a look-alike site.
What you can buy with CVS OTC benefits
- First-aid supplies
- Cold, cough and allergy medicine
- Pain relievers
- Toothpaste and other dental care items
- Vitamins on the approved list
- Personal care items
Exclusions vary, but Carolina Complete Health, for example, excludes cosmetics, food supplements and replacement items. Only items on your plan’s approved catalog are covered.
CVS OTC benefits for Medicaid members
Some Medicaid managed care plans also offer CVS OTC allowances. Carolina Complete Health, a North Carolina Medicaid plan, lists a $30 quarterly CVS OTC allowance that can be used in store, online or by phone. Medicaid OTC benefits are set by each plan and state, so check your member handbook. For other plans, see our guides to Aetna Better Health of Louisiana and Molina OTC benefits.
Do CVS OTC benefits roll over?
Usually not. Aetna, for example, says “any unused allowance will not carry over to the next benefit period.” Some plans also limit home delivery to one order per period. Check your plan’s rules and spend your allowance before it resets. See how to check your OTC card balance.
Plans that use CVS for OTC
Aetna Medicare is the best-known example, since Aetna is part of CVS Health. Other Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans also use CVS OTC Health Solutions, while many plans use other vendors and cards. Read our guides to Aetna OTC benefits, Humana OTC benefits and Wellcare’s Spendables card to compare.
Looking for a plan with OTC benefits?
Original Medicare doesn’t include an OTC allowance. If you want one for 2027, compare Medicare Advantage plans during Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026. Read how to find Medicare Advantage plans with OTC benefits.
Frequently asked questions
What are CVS OTC benefits?
They’re over-the-counter allowances from your health plan that you can spend on approved items at CVS, online or by phone through CVS OTC Health Solutions.
How do I log in to CVS OTC benefits?
Use the website your plan lists, such as CVS.com/Aetna for Aetna Medicare or cvs.com/benefits for many other plans, and register with your member ID and other details.
Can I use CVS OTC benefits at a CVS inside Target?
Usually not. Plans commonly exclude CVS locations inside other stores. Check your plan’s store locator.
Is shipping free?
Many plans offer free home delivery for OTC orders. Aetna says products ship at no added cost.
What is the CVS OTC phone number?
It depends on your plan. Aetna Medicare members call 1-844-428-8147. Other plans list their own number in their OTC catalog.
This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by CVS Health, Aetna or any other health plan, or any U.S. government agency. Benefits vary by plan.