How to Use Your Over-the-Counter (OTC) Benefit (2024)

How to Use Your Over-the-Counter (OTC) Benefit (1)

CarePartners of Connecticut plan members have access to savings on eligible over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and health-related items by using your OTC benefit.

NEW – starting April 1, 2024, you can use your OTC benefit at CVS Health. See below for more details.

How to Use Your Over-the-Counter (OTC) Benefit (2)

How Your OTC Benefit Works

At the beginning of each calendar quarter, your OTC card is loaded with the quarterly OTC amount for your plan.

Plan

2024 Amount

Quarter

CareAdvantage Preferred (HMO)

$67

$67

$67

$67

Jan-Mar

Apr-Jun

Jul-Sep

Oct-Dec

CarePartners Access (PPO)

*See below

Jan-Mar

Apr-Jun

Jul-Sep

Oct-Dec

*Starting in 2024, Access PPO members receive a Visa® Flex Advantage spending card to access your OTC benefit. For quarterly amounts and information about using this card, visitcarepartnersct.com/FlexAdvantage.

Your balance does not carry over—try to spend the full amount before the end of each quarter.

Don’t throw out your card—it will be reloaded at the start of the next calendar quarter.

5 Easy Ways to Enjoy Your Benefits

  1. Shop in stores*—Swipe your OTC card at participating physical retailers including CVS, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Rite Aid, Stop & Shop, Walgreens, and Walmart. For a complete list of participating retailers and locations, visitcarepartnersct.com/order-OTC. *Access PPO members, learn how to shop in 2024 with your Visa Flex Advantage spending card.
  2. NEW – Order at CVS Health online* – Beginning April 1, 2024, you can use your OTC benefit at CVS Health online, a curated site where you can shop for only eligible OTC items.
    • Go to carepartnersct.com/order-OTC, log in using the number listed on your OTC card and your nine-digit member ID number from your CarePartners of Connecticut member ID card. *Access PPO members, learn how to shop in 2024 with your Visa Flex Advantage spending card.
    • You can search for eligible items, including national and store brands, by clicking on “Products” at the top of the homepage.
    • To shop on CVS Health, select “Locations” at the top of the homepage, then select “Online” on the left panel to see the link to CVS Health. You will also see the link to Medline (see below under Medline).
    • Click on the CVS Health link to shop for eligible items.
    • OTC items ordered from CVS Health online will be delivered with no additional shipping fees approximately 3–5 business days after the order is received.

      NOTE: If you have any issue ordering OTC items at CVS Health, try these solutions.

    • You can also order from CVS Health by Phone: To order eligible items by phone from CVS Health, call 1-833-875-1816 Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–11 p.m., and a CVS Health representative will take your order. Orders will be delivered with no additional shipping fees approximately 3–5 business days after the order is received.
  3. Place an order through Medline* —Go to carepartnersct.com/order-OTC, log in with your OTC card number and your CarePartners of Connecticut member ID number. Follow the steps described above under CVS Health, but instead of selecting "CVS Health", select "Medline" to shop at Medline site. Under “Select Location Type” on the left side of the screen, click “Online,” then “Medline.” Alternatively, you may call 1-833-569-2331 (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. ET) and a Medline representative will take your order, or fill out and return the mail-order form included in the Medline OTC benefits catalog (2024 version). If you need a printed copy mailed to you, call Member Services at 1-888-341-1507 (HMO) or 1-866-632-0060 (PPO) (TTY: 711). OTC items ordered online, by phone, or by mail will be delivered approximately 2-5 business days after the order is received by Medline. *Access PPO members, learn how to shop in 2024 with your Visa Flex Advantage spending card.
  4. NEW Online through Walmart.com—You can shop for eligible items at Walmart.com. Walmart.com is not a curated site, so you will be able to shop for both eligible OTC items and other non-eligible items. At checkout, select “pay with card” and enter your OTC card number (Visa Flex Advantage spending card number for PPO members). Your OTC card can only be used to pay for eligible OTC items up to the balance on your OTC card at the time of the transaction; you can pay for non-eligible items with another form of payment such as personal credit card or cash if allowed. Note: Shipping fees may apply depending on your order size a and will not be covered by your OTC card. To avoid fees, you can choose in-store pick-up.There are 3 easy ways to shop on Walmart.com:

Method

Description

Fee*

Notes

Pickup

Reservea time, and the order is brought to you curbside at your selected store.

Free

Pickup is free, no order minimums.**

Shipping

Orders are shipped to your mailing address.

$6.99

No fee for orders over $35. No fee for Walmart+ members.

Delivery

You reserve a time, and the order is delivered to your home.

$7.95 to $9.95

No fee for Walmart+ members with orders over $35.

*You will see any fees from your cart at check-out. Fees cannot be paid with an OTC Network card. Restrictions apply.**$6.99 fee for pickup orders under $35 which include perishable items. No fee for Walmart+ members. Items sold and shipped by Walmart.com can be returned or replaced, when available, by mail within 90 days of receipt. Exceptions are noted on theWalmart corporate Return Policy page. Returns are refunded to your OTC Network card within 3-5 business days of receipt of the return.

5. Order online through Walgreens.com – You can shop for eligible items at Walgreens.com. Walgreens.com is not a curated site, so you will be able to shop for both eligible OTC items and other non-eligible items. At checkout, enter your OTC card number (Visa Flex Advantage spending card number for PPO members). Your OTC card can only be used to pay for eligible OTC items up to the balance on your OTC card at the time of the transaction; you can pay for non-eligible items with another form of payment such as personal credit card or cash if allowed. Note: Shipping fees of $5.99 may apply depending on your order size and will not be covered by your OTC card. To avoid fees, you can choose “in-store pick-up.” Other things to know:

OTC eligibility and pricing is the same in-store / online.

Depending on your method of delivery, your items could be in-hand in as little as 30 minutes.

Ship-from-store orders are delivered from the local store of your choice. Items that cannot be shipped from the selected store are delivered via FedEx from a centralized Walgreens location.

You will receive order, tracking, and delivery status via email/txt (opt-in) from the moment your order is placed until it’s delivered or picked up.

For in-store pickup and ship from store orders - Inventory position for the selected store is shown in real-time and an out-of-stock item cannot be selected. In the event of a damaged or missing item, the item will be cancelled from the order and the amount refunded to the customer’s card.

You can call 1-877-250-5823 for any online order issue. Customer support is available 24x7 for order support.

For More Information

If you have any technical difficulty using your card, call Medline at 1-833-569-2331.

If you have any questions about using your OTC benefit, call CarePartners of Connecticut Member Services at 1-888-341-1507(HMO)/1-866-632-0060 (PPO)(TTY: 711).

Quarterly allowance is for the purchase of Medicare-approved OTC items from the Medline catalog. Your OTC benefit cannot be used to purchase Part B or Part D covered prescription drugs. OTC items may only be purchased for the enrollee, not for family members or friends. Some items may be covered through your Medicare Part B medical or Part D prescription drug coverage. Other items may be used for either a medical condition, or for general health and well-being. These are called dual-purpose items. You should only buy these items after discussing them with your health care provider to see if they recommend the item for a specific diagnosed condition. Please speak with your physician before buying dual-purpose items.

How to Use Your Over-the-Counter (OTC) Benefit (2024)

FAQs

How to Use Your Over-the-Counter (OTC) Benefit? ›

At local retailers, take your items to the checkout lanes. When you check out, swipe your OTC Plus/OTC card for payment. Purchases of approved items are automatically deducted from your card balance.

How do I use my OTC benefits? ›

Shop in stores*—Swipe your OTC card at participating physical retailers including CVS, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Rite Aid, Stop & Shop, Walgreens, and Walmart. For a complete list of participating retailers and locations, visit carepartnersct.com/order-OTC.

How do you get money on your OTC card? ›

As long as you are an active member, your OTC Card will automatically reload on the first day of every quarter (January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1). You have the full three months to use your benefit amount. Be aware that any balance remaining at the end of a quarter does not roll over to the next quarter.

How do I use my OTC benefits at CVS? ›

Inform the cashier that you have the OTCHS benefit and present your member ID card before the cashier begins to scan products. Your insurance card is used to verify eligibility, not as a form payment. You can also cut out and present the QR Code to the store colleague at the register to assist with the transaction.

Can I buy soap and shampoo with my OTC card? ›

OTC items are not eligible for reimbursem*nt if they are normally used for general health, are not used to treat a medical condition (e.g. toothpaste, mouthwash, lotion, shampoo) or are cosmetic in nature (e.g. teeth whitening products, wrinkle reducers). See additional examples in the OTC Chart.

Can you use an OTC card to pay bills? ›

Wireless, Internet, and Utility Bill Payment: You can use your OTC card to pay your internet, wireless, and utility bills at any in-store or online retailer that accepts VISA.

How to use OTC at Walmart? ›

How do I use my OTC Network card on Walmart.com? You can create a Walmart.com account and add your OTC Network card to your wallet or enter your OTC Network card as a payment method during check-out.

Can you take money off of your OTC card? ›

You can also ask for cash back. Use a HigherOne ATM to withdraw funds. $500 withdrawal limit per day.

How do I use my UCard for groceries? ›

Just head to your favorite participating retailer on the list, fill your cart with the good stuff from our list of eligible foods and simply swipe your card at the register to use your benefit. What's the good stuff? Again, it's pretty simple… fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, dairy products and more.

How much do I have left on my OTC card? ›

How do I check the balance on my OTC card? Once your card is activated, you should learn how to check your account details. You'll especially need to check your balance and the amount you've used. Most cards have a toll-free number listed on the back of the card, which you can call to find out.

What food items can you get with an OTC card? ›

Examples of approved food items are fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy, rice, pasta, beans, and much more.

Can I buy laundry detergent with an OTC card? ›

You can also get everyday items like laundry detergent, soap and toothbrushes.

How do I use my OTC Healthy Benefit card? ›

How to use your card. You can use your card in-store, over the phone or online at participating retailers. Simply swipe your card at checkout.

Does my OTC card have a PIN? ›

You will not need a PIN to use your card. Your available OTC spending allowance will apply to the eligible items and deduct from your total purchase. Sales tax may apply. If your total is more than your available balance, please use another form of payment for the remaining amount.

How does OTC benefit work? ›

A physical OTC benefit card is provided annually to eligible members, along with a predetermined amount put onto the card that is only to be used for eligible OTC items. Depending on the health plan, funds are loaded or reloaded to the card on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.

How do I use my Walmart OTC benefit card? ›

You can create a Walmart.com account and add your OTC Network card to your wallet or enter your OTC Network card as a payment method during check-out.

What food items can you buy with OTC card? ›

Examples of approved food items are fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy, rice, pasta, beans, and much more.

Can you withdraw money from your OTC card? ›

OTC withdrawals are available up to the daily withdrawal authorization limits, provided the Available Balance in your account is greater than or equal to the cash withdrawal amount requested.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jamar Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 6099

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (75 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jamar Nader

Birthday: 1995-02-28

Address: Apt. 536 6162 Reichel Greens, Port Zackaryside, CT 22682-9804

Phone: +9958384818317

Job: IT Representative

Hobby: Scrapbooking, Hiking, Hunting, Kite flying, Blacksmithing, Video gaming, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Jamar Nader, I am a fine, shiny, colorful, bright, nice, perfect, curious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.