How to Use Your Over-the-Counter (OTC) Benefit

Tufts Medicare Preferred Saver Rx (HMO), Smart Saver Rx (HMO), and Access PPO plan members have access to savings on eligible over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and health-related items by using your OTC benefit.

Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO OTC Card
 

Tufts Medicare Preferred PPO OTC Card
 

How Your OTC Benefit Works

At the beginning of each calendar quarter, your card is loaded with your OTC benefit amount. Your balance does not carry over, so try to spend the full amount before the end of each quarter. Your card will be reloaded at the start of each calendar quarter. (Don’t throw it away!)

Your quarterly amount depends on the year and the plan you are enrolled in:

Your balance does not carry over—Try to spend the full quarterly amount before the end of each quarter.

Don’t throw out your card—It will be reloaded at the start of the next calendar quarter.

5 Easy Ways to Enjoy Your Benefits

1. Shop in stores^*—Swipe your OTC card at participating physical retailers including CVS, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Rite Aid, Stop & Shop, Walgreens, and Walmart. For a complete list of participating retailers and locations, visit thpmp.org/order-OTC. ^*Access PPO members, visit thpmp.org/flex-advantage to learn how to shop with your Flex Advantage spending card.

   NEW: Use Scan to Pay for an even easier way to pay in stores—Just download the OTC Network app to your mobile phone and pay for eligible OTC items in-store at participating retailers using the Scan to Pay feature. With Scan to Pay you’ll always have your card with you. It’s the fast, easy way to pay for OTC items in stores.

   How it works
   With the OTC mobile app’s Scan to Pay feature, you use a digital version of your card to scan to complete a transaction at a retail location. This is equivalent to swiping your physical card and your balance will be adjusted in the same way.

   How to download the OTC app to access Scan to Pay:

   • Go to the App Store or Google Play.
   • Search for the OTC Network.
   • Download the app and follow the steps to enter your card number.

   Once you download the app make sure to set it up by:

   • Entering your OTC card number. (Do not include spaces or dashes.) 
   • Entering one secondary ID field. (Ex: Member ID, birthday, zip code) 
   • Clicking “I agree to the Privacy Policy”

   (You may also be prompted with a CAPTCHA security check for safety purposes when setting up.)

   To access the scan to pay feature once you are logged in to the App:

   • Select the menu icon to view the clickable menu bar options in the OTC Network mobile app. 
   • Select “Scan to Pay”. 
   • Scan barcode at the cash register when completing a transaction at the retailer location. The barcode may expire and you will need to generate a new barcode. 
   • If required, provide additional tender to complete your purchase.

   Note: Scan to Pay is not accepted at the following retailers:

   • Walgreens
   • Publix Super Markets
   • Carlie Cs IGA Inc
   • Discount Drug Mart
   • Key Foods
   • Vowells Marketplace
   • Save A Lot
   • HEB
2. Order at CVS Health online^*—You can use your OTC benefit at CVS Health online, a curated site where you can shop for only eligible OTC items. 
   • Go to thpmp.org/order-OTC, log in using the number listed on your OTC card and your nine-digit member ID number from your Tufts Health Plan member ID card. ^*Access PPO members, visit thpmp.org/flex-advantage to learn how to shop with your Visa Flex Advantage spending card.
   • You can search for eligible items, including national and store brands, by clicking on “Products” at the top of the homepage.
   • To shop on CVS Health, select “Locations” at the top of the homepage, then select “Online” on the left panel to see the link to CVS Health. You will also see the link to Medline (see below under "Place an order through Medline").
   • Click on the CVS Health link to shop for eligible items.

   • OTC items ordered from CVS Health online will be delivered with no additional shipping fees approximately 3–5 business days after the order is received.

     NOTE: If you have any issue ordering OTC items at CVS Health, try these solutions.

   • You can also order from CVS Health by phone: To order eligible items by phone from CVS Health, call 1-833-875-1816 Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–11 p.m., and a CVS Health representative will take your order. Orders will be delivered with no additional shipping fees approximately 3–5 business days after the order is received. 
3. Place an order through Medline^*—Go to thpmp.org/order-OTC, and log in with your OTC card number and your Tufts Health Plan member ID number. Follow the steps described above under CVS Health but instead of selecting "CVS Health" select "Medline" to shop at the Medline site. Alternatively, you may call 1-833-569-2168 (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. ET) and a Medline representative will take your order, or fill out and return the mail-order form included in the Medline OTC benefits catalog  (2025 version). If you need a printed copy mailed to you, call Member Services at 1-800-701-9000 (HMO) or 1-866-623-0172 (PPO) (TTY: 711). OTC items ordered online, by phone, or by mail will be delivered approximately 2-5 business days after the order is received by Medline. ^*Access PPO members, learn how to shop with your Visa Flex Advantage spending card.

4. Order online through Walmart.com—You can shop for eligible items at Walmart.com. Walmart.com is not a curated site, so you will be able to shop for both eligible OTC items and other non-eligible items. At checkout, select “pay with card” and enter your OTC card number (Visa Flex Advantage spending card number for PPO members). Your OTC card can only be used to pay for eligible OTC items up to the balance on your OTC card at the time of the transaction; you can pay for non-eligible items with another form of payment, such as a personal credit card or cash if allowed. Note: Shipping fees may apply depending on your order size and will not be covered by your OTC card. To avoid fees, you can choose “in-store pick-up.” There are 3 easy ways to shop on Walmart.com:

   Method	Description	Fee*	Notes
   Pickup	Reserve a time, and the order is brought to you curbside at your selected store.	Free	Pickup is free, no order minimums.**
   Shipping	Orders are shipped to your mailing address.	$6.99	No fee for orders over $35. No fee for Walmart+ members.
   Delivery	You reserve a time, and the order is delivered to your home.	$7.95 to $9.95	No fee for Walmart+ members with orders over $35.
   *You will see any fees from your cart at check-out. Fees cannot be paid with an OTC Network card. Restrictions apply. **$6.99 fee for pickup orders under $35 which included perishable items. No fee for Walmart+ members. Items sold and shipped by Walmart.com can be returned or replaced, when available, by mail within 90 days of receipt. Exceptions are noted on the Walmart corporate Return Policy page. Returns are refunded to your OTC Network card within 3-5 business days of receipt of the return.

5. Order online through Walgreens.com—You can shop for eligible items at Walgreens.com. Walgreens.com is not a curated site, so you will be able to shop for both eligible OTC items and other non-eligible items. At checkout, enter your OTC card number (Visa Flex Advantage spending card number for PPO members). Your OTC card can only be used to pay for eligible OTC items up to the balance on your OTC card at the time of the transaction; you can pay for non-eligible items with another form of payment, such as a personal credit card or cash if allowed. Note: Shipping fees of $5.99 may apply depending on your order size and will not be covered by your OTC card. To avoid fees, you can choose “in-store pick-up.” Other things to know:
   • OTC eligibility and pricing is the same in-store/online.
   • Depending on your method of delivery, your items could be in-hand in as little as 30 minutes.
   • Ship-from-store orders are delivered from the local store of your choice. Items that cannot be shipped from the selected store are delivered via FedEx from a centralized Walgreens location.
   • You will receive order, tracking, and delivery status via email/txt (opt-in) from the moment your order is placed until it’s delivered or picked up.
   • For in-store pickup and ship-from-store orders: Inventory position for the selected store is shown in real-time, and an out-of-stock item cannot be selected. In the event of a damaged or missing item, the item will be cancelled from the order and the amount refunded to the member’s card.
   • You can call 1-877-250-5823 for any online order issue. Customer support is available 24x7 for order support.

For More Information

If you have any questions about using your OTC benefit, call Tufts Health Plan Member Services at HMO: 1-800-701-9000, PPO: 1-866-623-0172 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m.–8 p.m., 7 days a week (Mon.–Fri. from Apr. 1–Sept. 30).

Quarterly OTC credit is for the purchase of Medicare-approved OTC items from participating retailers and plan-approved online stores. Unused balance at the end of a calendar quarter does not roll over. Under certain circumstances, items may be covered under your Medicare Part B or Part D benefit.