Did you know you can get free stuff with Medicaid? It’s true! We have found a TON of unexpected ways that Medicaid can help you – from rent money to free gym memberships to discounts on shopping and more!
Before we dive into the incredible offers we’ve found, it’s important to understand that Medicaid benefits can differ a lot between states and even between plans. This list does include some perks that are available to anyone who receives Medicaid in any state, but most of the best offers are very specific to certain states and plans. We’ll show you how to verify what’s available in your plan a little later.
About Free Stuff from Medicaid
I’ve done a ton of research on how to get free stuff from Medicaid, such as free gift cards, diapers, school supplies, help with rent and more. But before you get too excited, here’s the deal:
- I’m not an insurance expert. This info is based on my personal research, and while I aim for accuracy, Medicaid benefits vary widely depending on your state and specific plan. I’ve linked to a lot of documents here but you should read them yourself to be sure.
- Double-check what your plan offers. Each state and plan have different rules. Your state’s Medicaid agency or your health plan provider are the best sources for the most up-to-date and personalized info.
- This isn’t financial advice. I’m sharing my findings, not giving professional guidance. If you need that, talk to a qualified expert.
At Low Income Relief, it’s our goal to empower you with information, but it’s always important to do your own research to verify what applies to you. Now, let’s dive into those awesome Medicaid benefits!
Things Everyone Can Get with Medicaid
There are some benefits that everyone can get from Medicaid, no matter where they live or what plan they are on. These include:
Free Rides to the Doctor
Federal law says that Medicaid has to cover your transportation to and from Medicaid-covered appointments through the Non-Emergency Medical Transportation benefit. Different states handle this in different ways. Sometimes, they’ll provide you with gas cards or travel reimbursement. Sometimes, they’ll arrange a ride for you. Recently, one of my friends needed to travel over three hours away for her son’s early-morning surgery. Medicaid paid for their gas and an overnight hotel stay for that appointment.
Remember, the amount and types of coverage that you are offered will depend on what state you live in. But you can always call the number on the back of your Medicaid card for more information about what is covered in your area. Transportation may be provided through ride-share programs, bus passes, or even mileage reimbursement if you drive yourself. In some cases, Medicaid may even cover lodging if you need to travel far for medical care.
Shopping & Streaming Discounts
If you have Medicaid, you can get 50% off popular memberships and services:
- Amazon Access offers 50% off Amazon Prime. This includes access to Amazon’s streaming service.
- Walmart Plus Assist offers a 50% discount on Walmart Plus. This includes access to Paramount+.
- Target Circle 360 also offers 50% off for eligible shoppers.
Some Medicaid plans have offered extra shopping perks like a free Costco Gold Card, a free $50 Uber or Lyft gift card, or other perks in the past as well.
Remember, these perks can vary, so check out your specific plan to see what deals you can score!
Internet & Technology Discounts
Many internet service providers offer Medicaid discounts, including Comcast (Internet Essentials), Cox (ConnectAssist), Astound (Internet First), and Mediacom (Connect2Compete). These plans can significantly lower your monthly internet bill.
You can also get affordable laptops or desktops from organizations like PCs for People or Human-I-T. These nonprofits offer low-cost computers and digital literacy training to qualifying individuals.
The federal Lifeline program is another way to save. It offers $9.25 per month toward your phone bill—or, if you pick a Lifeline plan, you might get your service completely free. Just make sure to choose a provider with a good reputation before signing up.
Bike Share Discounts
If you live in a city with a bike-share program, you might be eligible for a discounted membership through Lime Access or Spin Access. You’ll need to register ahead of time on their websites, but once you’re signed up, you can enjoy affordable transportation around your city.
Gym & YMCA Discounts
Many fitness centers have partnerships with local Medicaid providers that can save you a lot of money.
But here’s the catch: a lot of the YMCA offices and Medicaid plans don’t advertise this benefit. You may have to call and ask. Many of the YMCA offices I investigated don’t differentiate between Medicare and Medicaid, so that gets a little confusing. To make it easy on yourself, I’d start by calling your Medicaid provider and asking about any gym or fitness benefits they offer.
If you also have Medicare, you may be eligible for fitness programs like SilverSneakers, which often include access to gyms and fitness classes at no cost.
The Best Medicaid Freebies
The best Medicaid freebies come through a special provision called “Health Related Social Needs.” This policy allows states to use Medicaid funding for certain non-medical supports as long as they help improve help and reduce overall costs. For example, HRSN funding can be used to pay for air conditioners or even rent because paying for those things can help prevent expensive Emergency Room visits later.
In early 2025, federal officials pulled back the national HRSN rules. They did not cancel programs that were already approved, but new plans now face tighter checks. Each service must link to a clear health need. It must be short-term, targeted, and proven to save money. Because of this, some states still offer some help but the options are more limited than they were before.
Free Housing
In some states, Medicaid dollars have been used to provide up to six months of rent for a household.
That’s because many states realized that having a safe and secure home can improve health outcomes. Stable housing allows for better medication management, reduces exposure to illness, and even reduces the number of expensive emergency room visits.
Some states that have used Medicaid funding to help with housing assistance include Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon and more. These programs vary widely by state.
Free Food
You know what else Medicaid may be able to cover for you? Food! We all know that SNAP benefits aren’t enough to cover your actual food needs, and the government recognizes that eating more nutritious food generally results in better health. That’s why some states are using Medicaid money to support healthy diets.
Medicaid-funded food support can include:
- Food Prescription Programs: These programs help you get free fruits, vegetables and other healthy staples. But there are other programs that can help as well.
- Free Post-Hospitalization Meals: Many Medicaid plans can provide up to 10 home delivered meals for qualified members. If you’re fresh out of the hospital, some plans will cover two meals a day for seven days following your hospital stay. Those meals are delivered right to your home!
- Homestyle Direct claims to offer home-delivered meals through Medicaid in 25 states.
- Organizations like Food Smart work with state Medicaid programs to deliver food boxes as well. In order to connect with these programs, you just need to contact your Medicaid provider to see what they will cover and what you are eligible for.
Free Gift Cards
The My Health Pays Rewards in the NC Wellcare Plan can provide up to $75 per year. You earn those rewards by completing certain health-based activities, like $10 for getting a flu shot or $25 for completing a well-child visit or participating in a certain health screening. You can earn up to $75 per year, but those benefits are sent to your rewards card as soon as the company processes your claim.
I saw programs like this in most states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. The amount you can earn in each state varies – some states offer up to $150 a year in these cash rewards.
You just need to look up your state and the phrase “My Health Pays” to see if it’s available in your area. If you prefer, you can also call the number on the back of your card and ask if they have any rewards or healthy incentives programs.
Free Diapers, Bug Spray & OTC Purchases
Be sure to ask about any over-the-counter coverage that your plan may include as well. It’s amazing how many people miss this simple way to get free stuff from Medicaid. I was surprised to see that a lot of different plans offer allowances for OTC medications and products like vitamins, lotion, sunscreen, first aid kits, bug spray, shampoo, cold medicine and even diapers.
In Louisiana, the Aetna Medicaid plan covers up to $25 a quarter in eligible Over-the-Counter purchases at CVS. And when I looked at the CVS website, it looks like they have OTC partnerships with a ton of different Medicaid, Medicare and private health care providers across many states.
But here’s the catch: these benefits don’t roll over. It’s use it or lose it. If you don’t use your full allowance in one month, it just disappears and you start over with a fresh allowance the next month.
Free Car Seats, Strollers & More
If you’re pregnant or have kids in your household, you may be able to get even more free stuff from Medicaid. This can help you save a ton of money and stress when your new child is on the way.
Major nationwide Medicaid providers like United Healthcare and Blue Cross Community Health Plans include these special perks. United Healthcare states that they offer free diapers, car seats, breast pumps and other supplies in many stats, and Blue Cross has a Special Beginnings Program that can provide a free car seat, portable crib and/or diapers as well.
Free Swim Lessons & Club Memberships
The extra perks don’t stop after the baby is born, either! Many Medicaid programs offer extra incentives for children, like free membership to certain educational or youth group opportunities.
For example, we found plans that cover the cost of participation in Boys and Girls Club, 4H, or Healthy Kids Clubs. In Florida, the Humana plan provided up to $200 for swim lessons for people under age 21. In North Carolina, the Wellcare plan can also covered annual membership fees for Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, too!
Free School Supplies & GED Tests
Some plans also offer help with education costs as well. We’ve talked a lot about how to get free school supplies for kids on this channel, but I was surprised to see that Medicaid plans in Indiana and North Carolina have helped with school supplies, too!
These plans also helped for adults who need to get their GED. North Carolina’s Wellcare plan has provided $120 for a GED voucher, Indiana’s Anthem plan has covered the cost of GED tests and up to two retests. Other plans in other states may cover other education expenses. You just need to call your Medicaid provider to find out!
Extra Freebies
If you have certain diagnoses, you may be able to get even more freebies and perks. You’ll need to carefully read your plan’s terms and conditions to find these benefits.
It’s relatively rare to find this kind of free stuff from Medicaid and you really have to dig into the details to find the details of these offers.
How to Find Your Freebies
So, how do you find out if you can get free stuff from your Medicaid plan? Don’t worry, it’s easier than you might think! But fair warning: sometimes these awesome benefits are buried deep.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Dig into that Medicaid packet (I know, it’s boring and nobody wants to): That thick stack of papers that came with your enrollment? It’s actually a goldmine of information. Look for sections titled “enhanced benefits,” “expanded benefits,” or “non-medical allowances.” These often hide the extra perks you might not expect.
- Contact Your Health Plan Directly: If you’re enrolled in a specific Medicaid plan, reach out to their member services. They can give you the most personalized and accurate info on what your plan includes. Sometimes they won’t offer information about these perks unless you ask, so ask specific questions to make sure you’re getting accurate answers.
- Check Your State’s Medicaid Website: Your state’s official Medicaid agency website is your go-to resource. They sometimes have a section dedicated to benefits, explaining what’s covered under different plans. You might even find a handy benefits calculator or comparison tool.
- Talk to a Medicaid Expert: If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure, consider seeking help from a Medicaid expert or navigator. They can guide you through the ins and outs of your plan and help you maximize your benefits.
Remember, benefits can change so it’s important to stay updated! Check your state’s Medicaid website and your plan documents regularly for any updates or changes to your coverage
Relief Recap
Don’t miss out on getting free stuff from Medicaid! While some benefits can be tricky to find, this guide has given you the tools to uncover those hidden gems. Remember, don’t be afraid to ask for help; Medicaid experts and your health plan’s customer service team are there to assist you. With a little effort, you can unlock a world of potential benefits and maximize your Medicaid coverage.
Thank You, for helping to guide us all through the low income mucky muck. Every helpful hint that you & your team provides, helps families find possible ways to climb themselves out of poverty and into self-sufficiency.
Thank you so much for your kind words. It means the world to know that our work is making a difference. We’re honored to walk alongside you—and so many others—on this journey.
Need all benefits as possible!!!
Thank you, every little bit helps.