Every year, over $5 billion in free Medicare OTC benefits go unused—and most people don’t even realize they’re missing out.
If you have Medicare, you might be eligible for free over-the-counter (OTC) products like pain relievers, vitamins, allergy medicine, and more. But these benefits don’t roll over. If you don’t use them before they expire—usually monthly or quarterly—they’re gone for good.
In this article, we will discuss who is eligible for Medicare OTC benefits and how you can easily claim yours from the comfort of your own home. Let’s dive in!
Why OTC Benefits Go Unused
Insurance companies set aside more than $7 billion every year for OTC benefits through Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, but only around $2 billion gets used. That’s a huge missed opportunity.
There are a few reasons why these benefits slip through the cracks:
- Many people don’t know how much money they have or what’s covered.
- Each plan is different, and coverage lists change every year.
- Information is often buried in hard-to-read PDFs.
- If you pay upfront, reimbursement is a hassle and requires paperwork.
It’s no wonder so many people give up.
How Do I Know if I Get Medicare OTC Benefits?
Traditional Medicare doesn’t include OTC coverage. These benefits are a feature of Medicare Advantage and Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (DSNPs):
- Over 87% of MA plans offer OTC benefits.
- 100% of DSNPs include them.
OTC perks are often used by insurance companies to attract new enrollees—but sadly, only about 30% of these benefits are ever used.
If you aren’t sure what your plan includes or if you want to explore plans with better benefits, now’s the time. You can review your options with Chapter by calling (417) 319-2139 or completing a quick online survey.
What Can You Get With Your OTC Benefits?
Depending on your plan, you might be able to get:
- Cold and allergy medications (like antihistamines and cough drops)
- Pain relievers (aspirin, ibuprofen)
- First aid supplies (bandages, ointments, thermometers)
- Personal care items (toothpaste, hand sanitizer)
- Mobility aids (canes, braces)
Some users on Reddit have even reported buying food, compression socks, and blood pressure monitors through their plans. Some plans may even help you pay for groceries or rent!
How Much Can You Get?
Each plan sets its own spending limits and timelines:
- Some offer a monthly amount (like $25 per month)
- Others provide a quarterly balance (like $75 every three months)
- A few may offer an annual allowance.
Some of our YouTube subscribers have reported receiving $120 or more every month through their OTC benefits. The important thing to remember is: if you don’t use it in time, you lose it.
How to Check Your OTC Balance and Order Items
o make this easier, we’ve partnered with Chapter, a free tool that helps you:
- Enter your insurance details
- Check your OTC balance
- See what items are eligible
- Order products online
Everything ships directly to your door—for free. No paperwork, no hassle.
Try the Chapter OTC search tool.
Chapter doesn’t make money from this service. They created the tool to help their members and now offer it to everyone. Their mission is simple: help you make the most of your Medicare benefits.
Relief Recap
If you have a Medicare Advantage or DSNP plan, you could be missing out on free health essentials every month—things like pain relievers, allergy meds, toothpaste, and even first aid supplies—just because the system is confusing. These OTC benefits are already included in your plan, but if you don’t use them before they expire, that money disappears.
With prices rising everywhere, this is a simple way to save on everyday items you already use. Tools like Chapter make it easy to check your balance, see what’s covered, and order products online for free—no paperwork, no stress. It’s your benefit—don’t let it go to waste!
The views and opinions expressed in the content on this website are solely those of the content creators and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or positions of the Social Security Administration, Medicare, Chapter, or its affiliates. Chapter makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. All content is intended for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes only and should not be interpreted as official positions of the Social Security Administration, Medicare, Chapter, or its affiliates. Chapter disclaims any liability for actions taken based on this content.
If you need assistance with Medicare, please reach out to Medicare, your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), your current Medicare insurance agent/broker/plan, or contact our Medicare partner, Chapter, at 417-319-2139 or visit their website at https://lirlinks.com/chapter. Chapter: Memoir, Inc. d/b/a Chapter is a privately owned, data- and technology-enabled advisory service helping older Americans navigate retirement. Insurance agency services are provided by Chapter Advisory, LLC, a licensed health insurance agency and wholly owned subsidiary of Memoir, Inc. In California, Chapter Advisory, LLC does business as Chapter Insurance Services (Lic. No. 6003691).Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations as well as stand-alone prescription drug plans with Medicare contracts. Enrollment depends on the renewal of those contracts. While Chapter maintains a comprehensive database of Medicare plans nationwide and assists in searching all options, Chapter has contracts with many, but not all, plans. Therefore, Chapter does not offer every plan available in your area. Chapter recommends plans even if they are not directly offered through Chapter. For complete Medicare plan options, please visit Medicare.gov, call 1-800-Medicare, or contact your local SHIP office.
