Allergy Season Products Covered by Medicare OTC Benefits

Managing Allergies with Your OTC Benefit

Seasonal allergies affect millions of seniors, causing sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion, and fatigue. Your Medicare Advantage OTC benefit covers many allergy relief products that can make allergy season more manageable.

Oral Antihistamines

• Loratadine (Claritin): Non-drowsy 24-hour relief. Safe for most seniors and doesn't interact with most medications
• Cetirizine (Zyrtec): Effective 24-hour antihistamine. May cause mild drowsiness in some people
• Fexofenadine (Allegra): Truly non-drowsy. Good option if you need to stay alert during the day
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl): Fast-acting but causes significant drowsiness. Not recommended for regular use in seniors

Nasal Products

• Fluticasone nasal spray (Flonase): Steroid nasal spray that reduces inflammation. Takes 1-2 weeks for full effect. Use daily during allergy season
• Saline nasal spray: Moisturizes and flushes allergens from nasal passages. Safe for unlimited daily use
• Nasal strips: Breathe Right strips open nasal passages for better airflow, especially at night

Eye Products

• Ketotifen eye drops (Zaditor): Antihistamine eye drops for itchy, watery eyes. Use twice daily during allergy season
• Artificial tears: Moisturize dry, irritated eyes. Choose preservative-free drops for frequent use

Prevention Tips

• Start early: Begin taking antihistamines 1-2 weeks before allergy season starts for best results
• Track pollen counts: Check daily pollen forecasts and stay indoors on high-pollen days
• Shower after outdoor time: Wash pollen from skin and hair to reduce nighttime allergy symptoms