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

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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.

 

NEW – starting April 1, 2024, Tufts Medicare Preferred Saver Rx (HMO), Smart Saver Rx (HMO), and Access PPO plan members can use their OTC benefit at CVS Health. See below for more details. 

 

Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO OTC Card

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Tufts Medicare Preferred PPO OTC Card

THP PPO Flex

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:                   
 

Plan2024 AmountQuarter
Saver Rx

$110

$110

$110

$110

January - March

April - June

July - September

October - December

Smart Saver Rx

$75

$75

$75

$75

January - March

April - June

July - September

October - December

Access PPO

*See Below

*See Below

*See Below

*See Below

January - March

April - June

July - September

October - December

*Starting in 2024, Access PPO members receive a Visa® Flex Advantage spending card to access your OTC benefit. For quarterly amounts and information about using this card, visit thpmp.org/flex-advantage

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. New for 2024! 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 in 2024 with your Flex Advantage spending card.
  2. NEW- Order at CVS Health online – Beginning April 1, 2024, 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 in 2024 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 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.
    • 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 (2024 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 in 2024 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:

    MethodDescriptionFee*Notes
    PickupReserve a time, and the order is brought to you curbside at your selected store.FreePickup is free, no order minimums.**
    ShippingOrders are shipped to your mailing address.$6.99No fee for orders over $35. No fee for Walmart+ members.
    DeliveryYou reserve a time, and the order is delivered to your home.$7.95 to $9.95No 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 customer’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.