List of What You Can Get With an OTC Card: 2027 Eligible Items
Reviewed October 24, 2026. An OTC card from a Medicare Advantage plan can pay for health-related products you buy without a prescription: pain relievers, cold and allergy medicine, first aid supplies, incontinence products, toothpaste and denture care, compression stockings and sunscreen, among others. Medicare’s rules don’t let the allowance pay for cosmetics, baby items, food or general household goods, and vitamins and home testing kits come with extra conditions. Your plan’s 2027 OTC catalog is the final list.
Quick answer: If an item treats, prevents or manages a health condition and isn’t already covered by Medicare Part B or Part D, it’s usually eligible. If its main purpose is comfort, appearance or everyday household use, it usually isn’t. Groceries and utilities are only covered when your plan has a separate chronic-condition (SSBCI) allowance and you qualify.
List of what you can get with an OTC card
The table below follows CMS’s own list of eligible OTC items in Chapter 4 of the Medicare Managed Care Manual. Each plan builds its catalog from these categories, so brands, sizes and limits vary.
| Category | Examples | Status under CMS rules |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines with active ingredients | Pain and fever relievers, cold and cough medicine, allergy pills, antacids, laxatives, anti-diarrheals, sleep aids, medicated creams and sprays | Eligible |
| First aid supplies | Bandages, gauze, antiseptic, first aid kits | Eligible |
| Incontinence supplies | Adult briefs, pads, underpads | Eligible |
| Mouth care | Toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, denture adhesives and cleaners, gum stimulators | Eligible |
| Supportive items | Compression hosiery, rib belts, elastic knee supports | Eligible |
| Fiber supplements | Psyllium and other fiber products | Eligible |
| Sun protection | Topical sunscreen | Eligible |
| Vitamins and minerals | Multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium | Dual purpose: CMS says buy after talking with your provider |
| Home testing and monitoring | Blood pressure monitors, blood sugar and cholesterol tests | Dual purpose |
| Weight loss and hormone products | Weight-loss items, hormone replacement | Dual purpose |
Source: CMS Medicare Managed Care Manual, Chapter 4, section 40. “Dual purpose” means the item can be bought only after you discuss it with your doctor or other provider; in practice most plans simply list the items they cover in their catalog.
What you can’t buy with an OTC card
CMS lists these as not eligible for an OTC benefit:
- Alternative medicines: homeopathic remedies, botanicals, herbals, probiotics and nutraceuticals
- Baby items such as diapers and formula
- Contraceptives
- Convenience and comfort items: scales, fans, magnifying glasses, ear plugs, insoles, arch supports and gloves
- Cosmetics: mouthwashes, deodorants, skin moisturizers and teeth whiteners
- Food products and supplements such as energy bars, protein bars and power drinks
- Replacement items and accessories, such as hearing aid batteries or contact lens cases, unless they come packaged with the original item
The manual also says OTC items may be bought “for the enrollee only,” and a plan can’t give you cash to buy them. Carrier lists match: UnitedHealthcare’s UCard page excludes probiotics, cosmetics, hair and hygiene products, moisturizers, teeth whitening and weight-loss food and meal supplements, and Humana’s South Carolina Medicaid catalog excludes alternative medicines, convenience items, cosmetics and food supplements.
Why some cards cover more: OTC vs. SSBCI allowances
Since 2020, Medicare Advantage plans can also offer Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI). CMS guidance says these benefits can include items that are “not primarily health related,” such as food and produce, pest control and general supports for living, if they can reasonably be expected to improve or maintain the member’s health. That’s why some cards hold two kinds of money:
| Allowance | What it can buy | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| Standard OTC allowance | Health-related OTC items only (the list above) | Every member of a plan with an OTC benefit |
| SSBCI allowance (food, utilities, household) | Healthy groceries, utility bills and, on some plans, household supplies | Only members with a qualifying chronic condition who meet the plan’s criteria |
For 2027, CMS’s final rule says supplemental-benefit debit cards must be “electronically linked to plan-covered items and services,” check eligibility at checkout, and be limited to the plan year. Plans must also publish their SSBCI eligibility criteria. Source: CMS CY 2027 final rule fact sheet.
Can you buy food with an OTC card?
Not with a standard OTC allowance: CMS lists food products as ineligible. You can buy groceries only if your plan adds a healthy food benefit and you qualify for it. Examples for 2027 include the Humana Healthy Options Allowance, Aetna’s Extra Benefits Card food wallet and UnitedHealthcare’s UCard food credit on some D-SNPs. Read our guides to the Humana grocery allowance, what you can buy with the Aetna Extra Benefits Card and the Medicare grocery benefit.
Can you buy household items, like toilet paper?
Usually not with OTC money, because household paper goods and cleaning products are for daily maintenance rather than health. Some SSBCI allowances do cover them. See can you buy toilet paper with your OTC card for the plans that allow it.
Commonly asked items: quick answers
| Item | Usually covered by OTC? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tylenol, ibuprofen, aspirin | Yes | Medicines with active ingredients |
| Allergy and cold medicine | Yes | Some catalogs limit quantities per month |
| Toothpaste, toothbrushes, denture cleaner | Yes | CMS lists mouth care as eligible |
| Mouthwash | Often no | CMS lists mouthwash as a cosmetic; check your catalog |
| Vitamins | Often yes, in the catalog | CMS calls them dual purpose |
| Blood pressure monitor | Often yes | Dual purpose; Humana’s South Carolina Medicaid catalog limits it to one per plan year |
| Adult incontinence briefs | Yes | Baby diapers aren’t covered |
| Compression socks | Yes | Listed as supportive items |
| Sunscreen | Yes | Topical sunscreen is eligible |
| Deodorant, lotion, shampoo | No | Cosmetics and hygiene products |
| Probiotics, herbal supplements | No | Alternative medicines |
| Protein bars, energy drinks | No | Food products |
| Groceries | Only with an SSBCI food allowance | You must qualify |
Over-the-counter hearing aids and COVID-19 tests depend on the plan; check your catalog.
Where you can use your OTC card
Depending on your plan, you can order from a mail-order catalog, shop online, or swipe the card at participating stores. Our store guides cover Walmart, Target, Costco and Amazon. If an item isn’t eligible, the register declines it and you can pay for it another way.
Eligible items by carrier
Each carrier publishes its own catalog. For 2027 plan details, see:
- UnitedHealthcare OTC benefits and UCard
- Humana OTC catalog and the Humana Spending Account Card
- Aetna Extra Benefits Card
- HealthSpring flex card
- SCAN FlexEssentials
How to check whether an item is covered
- Look it up in your plan’s 2027 OTC catalog or online store.
- Scan the barcode in your card’s app, if it has one.
- Check your Evidence of Coverage, Chapter 4, for the OTC and SSBCI rules.
- Call the OTC phone number on the back of your card.
New to plan cards? Start with what an OTC card is, then learn how to check your OTC card balance. If you’re comparing plans during Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7, 2026), see how to find Medicare Advantage plans with OTC benefits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the list of what you can get with an OTC card?
Health-related non-prescription items: medicines such as pain relievers and cold remedies, first aid supplies, incontinence products, oral care, compression hosiery, fiber supplements and sunscreen. Vitamins and home monitors are often included too.
What can’t I buy with my OTC card?
Cosmetics, baby items, contraceptives, alternative medicines such as probiotics, convenience items, food products and replacement accessories, under CMS rules.
Can I buy vitamins with my OTC card?
Often, yes. CMS treats vitamins and minerals as dual-purpose items, and many plan catalogs include them.
Can I buy groceries with my OTC card?
Only if your plan includes a separate healthy food allowance for members with qualifying chronic conditions and you meet its rules.
Can I buy items for my spouse with my OTC card?
No. CMS says OTC items may be purchased for the enrollee only.
Does unused OTC money roll over?
Usually not. Most plans reset the allowance each month or quarter. Your Evidence of Coverage says whether yours carries over.
This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by any insurance carrier or 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
- CMS: Medicare Managed Care Manual, Chapter 4 (section 40, OTC benefits)
- CMS: Implementing Supplemental Benefits for Chronically Ill Enrollees (April 24, 2019)
- CMS: Contract Year 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D final rule fact sheet
- UnitedHealthcare: UCard
- Humana Healthy Horizons in South Carolina: 2026 OTC catalog