Free Stuff from Medicaid? Yes, It’s Real! Your Guide to Hidden Benefits

Free stuff with Medicaid? Yes, please! We have found a TON of unexpected ways that Medicaid can help you – from rent money to free gym memberships to free meals delivered right to your door.

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.

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!

Medicaid May Provide Free Housing

Let’s start by discussing how Medicaid might be able to pay your rent. This is really exciting because in some states, this program can cover up to six months of rent for your household.

There’s been a huge push lately to recognize housing as health care. It makes sense, because having a safe and secure home can improve health outcomes. Stable housing allows for better medication management, reduces exposure to illness, provides space for healthy living, makes it easier to access care, and even promotes mental health recovery. It also reduces the stress that can worsen so many health conditions.

Some states have found that people with safe and stable homes are less likely to use emergency room services and have shorter hospital stays, which helps Medicaid save money overall. Ultimately, there are a lot of reasons why so many states are starting to use Medicaid funds to support housing stability. 

Last year, The Washington Post reported that up to 19 states are now offering some sort of housing or non-medical support assistance through various Medicaid programs. 

Some states with Medicaid housing assistance programs include Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon and more. These programs vary widely by state. Here are some examples:

• In Arizona and Oregon, it looks like certain Medicaid plans can pay for up to six months of rent for qualifying families.
• Florida’s Humana plan can provide up to $500 toward your rent or utilities as a one-time offer.
• North Carolina’s Wellcare plan can provide up to $250 a year toward your housing and utility costs.

In fact, North Carolina has a special Medicaid pilot program called the Housing Opportunities Program that can cover even more – up to $500 toward your utilities, up to $10,000 for home repairs and disability modifications, up to $2,500 for home goods and more. It’s amazing!

Medicaid May Provide 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. 

We’ve talked before about food prescription programs, which can help you get free fruits, vegetables and other healthy staples. But there are other programs that can help as well. 

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! 

Some plans can also deliver fresh food boxes straight to your home.  Indiana’s Anthem plan can provide one food box a month for three months. North Carolina’s Wellcare plan provides healthy food boxes worth up to $150 and can also prescribe fruit and veggie vouchers worth up to $210 per month. In order to qualify for these services, you may need to have certain health conditions or meet other requirements. 

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. 

Medicaid May Provide Free Gift Cards

Oh, and don’t forget that some of these Medicaid plans will hand you money as well. Seriously! I found several plans that offered cashback rewards. 

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. 

You can usually use the rewards card to shop at Walmart for anything except alcohol, tobacco or firearms. You can also use the card for bills like rent, utilities, transportation, cell phone bills, childcare services or education expenses. 

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. 

Medicaid May Provide Free Diapers, Bug Spray & OTC Purchases

While you’ve got them on the phone, be sure to ask about any over-the-counter coverage they offer 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 will cover up to $25 a month 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. 

BONUS: Get Free Streaming & More with Medicaid Benefits

Speaking of savings, did you know Medicaid can even get you discounts on streaming services, online shopping and more?

You can use your Medicaid card to unlock a sweet deal on an Amazon Prime membership. Their Amazon Prime Access program will give you 50% off regular price, and you’ll still get to enjoy free shipping, streaming movies and music, and tons of other perks – for as little as $6.99 a month! Unlock Amazon Access now!

You can also cut your Walmart+ membership in half with your Medicaid card. This will unlock free grocery delivery from your local store, free streaming through Pluto and Paramount+, exclusive fuel discounts and other benefits. Give it a try with a 30-day free trial, then it’s as low as $6.47 a month. 

Some Medicaid plans, like Wellpoint in Washington State, offer extra shopping perks like a free Costco Gold Card, a free $50 Uber or Lyft gift card, or other perks. 

Remember, these perks can vary, so check out your specific plan to see what deals you can score!

Medicaid May Provide 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. 

If you are pregnant, you may be able to get a free stroller, car seat, portable crib, or even diapers from Medicaid in many states. I found this offering available from many plans coast-to-coast, including Washington’s Wellpoint plan, North Carolina’s Wellcare plan and more. 

Major nationwide Medicaid providers like United Healthcare and Blue Cross Community Health Plans include these special perks as well. 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. 

Medicaid May Provide 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 will cover the cost of participation in Boys and Girls Club, 4H, or Healthy Kids Clubs. In Florida, the Humana plan can provide up to $200 for swim lessons for people under age 21. In North Carolina, the Wellcare plan can also cover annual membership fees for Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, too!

Medicaid May Provide 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 can help with school supplies, too! 

These plans also provide help for adults who need to get their GED. North Carolina’s Wellcare plan will provide $120 for a GED voucher, Indiana’s Anthem plan will cover 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! 

Medicaid May Give You a Free Gym Pass

Oh – and many plans will help you get a free YMCA membership or gym pass, too! Many fitness centers have partnerships with local Medicaid providers that can save you a lot of money. 

For example, the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan in Missouri can give you free access to the YMCA in Mexico (that’s Mexico, Missouri, just in case you’re confused like I was). If you qualify, you can get a free membership and your kids can participate in most programs for free. It’s important to note that childcare programs are not covered at this location.

There are other YMCAs that provide free or steeply discounted membership for families on Medicaid as well. I literally found participating YMCAs coast to coast – from Washington to Pennsylvania to Alabama and beyond. 

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. 

Even if they don’t offer a free YMCA membership, they may offer a membership to another gym in your area! 

Medicaid May Give You 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.

For example, asthma sufferers in North Carolina can use their Wellcare benefits to get two free carpet cleanings per year, a $100 allowance for hypoallergenic bedding, and a HEPA filter vacuum. Other plans may offer other perks as well. 

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.

Medicaid Can Provide Free Transportation

Oh – and don’t forget about your transportation perks! You may be able to get help with transportation to your medical appointments and more.

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. 

Even if you already knew about these Non-Emergency Medical Transportation benefits, did you know that some Medicaid plans will give you free gas cards or even free gift cards to Uber or Lyft? These special perks vary by plan, but I found that many plans like Indiana’s Anthem plan have “Enhanced Benefits” that include transportation perks like this. 

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.