Kaiser OTC Benefits 2027: Healthy Extras Card, Allowances and Catalog
Reviewed October 22, 2026. Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare OTC benefit is a quarterly allowance loaded onto a Healthy Extras card. For 2027, Kaiser’s Summaries of Benefits say the card is reloaded on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, and unused money doesn’t roll over to the next quarter. Allowances in the 2027 plans we reviewed range from $25 to $40 a quarter, depending on the plan and region.
Quick answer: Use your Healthy Extras card like a debit card for eligible over-the-counter items at participating stores (including Kaiser Permanente retail pharmacies in some regions) and online. To check your balance, browse eligible items or order, visit mybenefitscenter.com or call 1-833-524-7035 (TTY 711), the number printed in Kaiser’s 2027 plan documents. Benefits vary by plan and region, so check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage.
Kaiser OTC benefits at a glance (2027)
| Feature | What Kaiser’s 2027 plan documents say |
|---|---|
| Card | Preloaded Healthy Extras card |
| How it loads | Quarterly: January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 |
| Rollover | No. Unused money doesn’t roll over to the next quarter |
| Where to use it | Eligible OTC items online and at participating retail stores; Kaiser’s Mid-Atlantic plans say over 70,000 stores |
| Not allowed | Tips or fees, such as delivery or shipping fees |
| If you leave the plan | Unused amounts are forfeited |
| Help line | 1-833-524-7035 (TTY 711); hours vary by region |
Kaiser OTC allowance by plan: 2027 examples
These amounts come from Kaiser Permanente’s 2027 Summaries of Benefits and plan brochures. They’re examples, not a full list, and your plan may be different.
| Kaiser plan (region) | 2026 OTC allowance | 2027 OTC allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Advantage Basic 1 and Enhanced 1 (HMO), Georgia | $35 per quarter | $35 per quarter |
| Senior Advantage San Diego County Plan (HMO), California | Not reviewed | $25 per quarter |
| Senior Advantage San Diego County Value Plan (HMO), California | Not reviewed | $40 per quarter |
| Medicare Advantage Liberty (HMO), Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. | Not reviewed | $25 per quarter |
| Medicare Advantage Value 2 VA (HMO-POS), Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Stafford | Not reviewed | $25 per quarter |
| Medicare Advantage Standard 2 VA (HMO-POS), same Virginia counties | Not reviewed | $35 per quarter |
Sources: Kaiser 2027 Summary of Benefits, Georgia Basic 1 and Enhanced 1, 2026 Georgia Summary of Benefits, 2027 Summary of Benefits, San Diego County plans, 2027 Liberty plan brochure and 2027 Virginia Value 2 and Standard 2 brochure.
A $25 quarterly allowance adds up to $100 for the year, and $40 a quarter adds up to $160, but you can’t save it: each quarter’s money must be used in that quarter.
What can you buy with Kaiser OTC benefits?
Kaiser describes the OTC benefit as a way to order items “such as cold remedies and pain relievers.” Typical OTC categories include:
- Cold, flu and allergy remedies
- Pain relievers and topical pain creams
- Vitamins and supplements your plan allows
- First aid supplies such as bandages and antiseptics
- Oral care and personal care items
- Incontinence products
Eligible items are set by your plan and can change each January 1. If an item isn’t eligible or your purchase is more than your balance, you pay the rest with another form of payment.
How to use your Healthy Extras card
- Activate your card using the instructions that come with it.
- Check what’s eligible at mybenefitscenter.com before you shop.
- Shop in a participating store or online. In Georgia, Kaiser’s 2027 plan documents say you can also use the card at Kaiser Permanente retail pharmacies.
- Use it before the quarter ends. The balance resets on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.
Kaiser OTC catalog and ordering by phone
Kaiser’s 2027 Summaries of Benefits direct members to mybenefitscenter.com or 1-833-524-7035 (TTY 711) for OTC questions. The help line hours listed in 2027 documents are 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern in Georgia; 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific in the San Diego plans; and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the Mid-Atlantic plans.
Earlier versions of this page listed a California OTC ordering line from Kaiser’s 2024 California catalog, 1-833-569-2360 (TTY: 711). That number came from an older catalog, so for 2027 use the phone number printed in your own plan’s Summary of Benefits or on your card.
For a broader look at catalogs across insurers, see our Medicare OTC card guide.
Kaiser OTC vs the Kaiser healthy food benefit
Some Kaiser plans put a second benefit on the same Healthy Extras card. In Georgia, for example, Kaiser’s 2027 Summary of Benefits lists a Special Supplemental Benefit for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) healthy food allowance of $100 a quarter for Basic 1 members and $120 a quarter for Enhanced 1 members, the same as in 2026. That money is only for members who meet the plan’s chronic-condition criteria, and like the OTC money it doesn’t roll over.
The OTC allowance can’t be used for groceries. Read our guide to the Kaiser healthy food card for how the food benefit works.
How to check your Kaiser OTC balance
- Sign in at mybenefitscenter.com.
- Call 1-833-524-7035 (TTY 711).
- Check the back of your Healthy Extras card for the website and phone number for your plan.
Our OTC card balance guide covers other carriers.
Comparing Kaiser plans for 2027
OTC benefits can change each year on January 1, and your Annual Notice of Change lists any changes for 2027. If you’re comparing plans during Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, look at the whole plan, not only the card: doctors, drug costs, dental and vision allowances and the out-of-pocket maximum. Our overview of Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plans and our list of Medicare Advantage plans with OTC benefits can help, and you can compare plans in your ZIP code with the Medicare Plan Finder.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Kaiser OTC allowance in 2027?
It depends on the plan. The 2027 plans we reviewed range from $25 a quarter (for example, the San Diego County Plan and the Mid-Atlantic Liberty plan) to $40 a quarter (San Diego County Value Plan).
Does the Kaiser OTC allowance roll over?
No. Kaiser’s 2027 plan documents say any unused portion of the quarterly allowance won’t roll over to the next quarter.
When does Kaiser load the Healthy Extras card?
On January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.
Can I use my Kaiser OTC card for shipping fees?
No. Kaiser says the Healthy Extras card can’t be used for tips or fees, such as delivery or shipping fees.
Can I buy food with the Kaiser OTC allowance?
No. Some plans have a separate healthy food allowance on the same card for members who qualify because of a chronic condition.
What phone number do I call for Kaiser OTC benefits?
Kaiser’s 2027 plan documents list 1-833-524-7035 (TTY 711). Check your plan’s Summary of Benefits for your region’s hours.
This article is general information, not individual insurance advice. Benefits vary by plan, region and county; check your plan’s Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage. Medicare365 is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente or with the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Related reading: Does Costco take OTC cards? and can you buy food with the Alignment Health OTC card.
Official sources
- Kaiser Permanente 2027 Summary of Benefits: Senior Advantage Basic 1 and Enhanced 1 (Georgia)
- Kaiser Permanente 2026 Summary of Benefits: Basic 1 and Enhanced 1 (Georgia)
- Kaiser Permanente 2027 Summary of Benefits: Senior Advantage San Diego County plans
- Kaiser Permanente 2027 Medicare Advantage Liberty (HMO) brochure
- Kaiser Permanente 2027 Value 2 VA and Standard 2 VA brochure
- Medicare.gov: Medicare Plan Finder