OTC Benefits for Couples: Maximizing Two Medicare Cards
Double the Benefit
If both you and your spouse are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans with OTC benefits, you have two separate allowances to work with. Smart coordination can save your household hundreds of dollars per year.
Coordination Strategies
- Split purchases: One person buys vitamins and supplements, the other buys first aid and medications
- Compare plan catalogs: Your plans may cover different items. Buy each item through the plan that covers it
- Stagger shopping: Shop at different times to avoid end-of-quarter rush
- Share monitoring devices: You only need one blood pressure monitor — use the other card for different products
What Each Card Can't Do
- You cannot combine two cards into one purchase at checkout
- Each card can only be used by the enrolled member (but caregivers can shop on their behalf)
- Allowances from different plans cannot be merged
Couple's tip: If one spouse has a D-SNP plan with a higher OTC allowance, buy the expensive items (blood pressure monitor, thermometer) on that card first.
Check Your OTC Benefit
Find out what products your plan covers and how much you can spend.
Learn More