Anthem OTC Card: How the Over-the-Counter Benefit Works
The Anthem OTC card is a supplemental benefit available on certain Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans. It puts a pre-loaded spending allowance on a Benefits Mastercard Prepaid Card that you use to buy approved everyday health products such as vitamins, pain relievers, and toothpaste. The allowance reloads monthly or quarterly depending on your plan, and it can only be spent on items in your plan's OTC catalog at participating retailers or through Anthem's partner NationsBenefits. Important: Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans do not offer an OTC benefit; it is only found on some Medicare Advantage plans.
What the Anthem OTC card is and how it works
The Anthem OTC (over-the-counter) card is a benefit offered on many Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans. It gives eligible members a pre-loaded spending allowance to buy select OTC health products without paying out of pocket, up to your allowance amount.
The allowance is delivered on a Benefits Mastercard Prepaid Card. The card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, under license from Mastercard International. It is not a regular bank debit card and it is not cash. It only works at participating Mastercard merchants for qualified OTC purchases, and only for the dollar amount your plan loads onto it.
Your card is automatically reloaded with a new allowance every month or every quarter, depending on your specific plan's benefit period. The exact schedule and amount are set by your plan, so check your plan materials for your reload cadence.
Does Original Medicare or Medigap cover OTC items?
No. Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not cover over-the-counter drugs or products. An OTC allowance is a supplemental benefit that is only offered through some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, including certain Anthem plans.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans also do not provide an OTC card. Medigap policies help pay your share of Original Medicare costs such as deductibles and coinsurance; they do not add extras like an OTC allowance.
OTC benefits are not on every Medicare Advantage plan either. According to KFF's analysis of CMS data, roughly two-thirds (about 66%) of individual Medicare Advantage plans offer an OTC benefit for 2026 (a decline from prior years), so availability and the allowance amount vary by plan and by region.
What you can buy and where you can use it
You can use the card only for approved OTC products listed in your plan's catalog. The allowance cannot be applied to items outside the catalog.
- Common eligible items: vitamins and supplements, toothpaste and oral care, pain relievers, cold and allergy remedies, first-aid supplies, and similar everyday health products.
- You can shop in person at participating retail stores that accept the Benefits Mastercard for qualified purchases.
- You can also order through Anthem's OTC partner NationsBenefits, online, by phone, or by mail, with home delivery at no additional cost. Use the ordering website printed in your plan materials or your NationsBenefits member account.
- Whether a specific store (for example a national pharmacy, grocery, or discount chain) participates can vary, so confirm participating retailers in your NationsBenefits account or plan materials before you shop.
- Not allowed: cash withdrawals, groceries that are not part of an eligible-foods benefit, and any item that is not in your OTC catalog. The card is not a cash benefit.
Balance, expiration, and rollover
OTC allowances are generally use-it-or-lose-it, so it is wise to use your full benefit before it expires. For many OTC allowances, any unused amount expires at the end of the month or quarter, and all benefits must be used by the end of the calendar year.
Rollover rules vary by plan. Some plans let you carry an unused balance into the next period and some do not, so check your specific plan's terms.
You can view your current balance and your expiration date in your NationsBenefits account online or by phone. Checking before each shopping trip helps you avoid losing unused dollars.
Eligibility, activation, and lost cards
To get the Anthem OTC card you must be enrolled in an Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plan that includes the OTC benefit. The allowance amount and the benefit period (monthly or quarterly) are defined by your specific plan, so two members on different plans may have different benefits.
If your plan includes the benefit, your card is mailed to you. Follow the activation instructions included with the card before first use. If your card is lost, stolen, or not working at checkout, contact the member services number on the back of your card or in your plan materials to get help or a replacement.
If you are not sure whether your plan includes an OTC benefit, check your plan's Summary of Benefits or call the number on your member ID card.
Frequently asked questions
How much money is on the Anthem OTC card, and is it monthly or quarterly?
The allowance amount and the reload schedule are set by your specific Anthem Medicare Advantage plan. Funds reload automatically each month or each quarter, depending on the plan. Check your plan's Summary of Benefits or your NationsBenefits account for your exact amount and schedule.
Can I use the Anthem OTC card at stores like CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, or Dollar General?
You can use the card at participating retailers that accept the Benefits Mastercard for qualified OTC purchases, but participation can vary by store and plan. Confirm which retailers participate in your NationsBenefits account or plan materials before shopping, and only buy items that are in your plan's OTC catalog.
Can I get cash from the OTC card or use it for groceries?
No. The Anthem OTC card is not a cash benefit. You cannot withdraw cash, and you can only spend the allowance on approved OTC products in your plan's catalog. Groceries are not covered unless your plan separately includes an eligible-foods benefit.
Does my unused balance roll over or do I lose it?
OTC allowances are generally use-it-or-lose-it. Unused amounts often expire at the end of the month or quarter, and all benefits must be used by the end of the calendar year. Rollover rules vary by plan, so check your plan terms and view your expiration date in your NationsBenefits account.
How do I order OTC products online, by phone, or by mail?
Order through Anthem's OTC partner NationsBenefits. You can place orders online (using the website in your plan materials or your NationsBenefits account), by phone, or by mail, and eligible items are delivered to your home at no additional cost.
Do Original Medicare or Medigap plans offer an OTC card?
No. Original Medicare does not cover OTC products, and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans do not provide an OTC card. An OTC allowance is a supplemental benefit found only on some Medicare Advantage plans, including certain Anthem plans.
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Medicare Login Guide is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or any government agency. This article is for general information only — confirm current figures and your specific options at medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.