Why spend the over-the-counter (OTC) benefit at CVS?

Most Medicare Advantage plans offer an over-the-counter (OTC) benefit. It pays for eligible health-related items, such as toothpaste, vitamins and sunscreen. Unfortunately, many people don’t know they have the OTC benefit or aren’t sure where (or how) to spend it.

CVS® can help people redeem this benefit and get some of the items on their weekly shopping list. With stores in many neighborhoods and many eligible products on shelves, CVS is here to help. Here, healthier happens together®.

In this article:

CVS is close to home

Visiting a health care provider or a specialist might mean hopping on the highway. But 85 percent of Americans live within 10 miles of a CVS Pharmacy®. If a CVS store isn’t within walking distance, there’s a good chance it might be a short drive or bus ride away.

CVS is a trusted local health stop. One study found that 58 percent of Americans head to the pharmacy first for nonemergency medical problems. Not only do they stock items for most minor ailments, but staff pharmacists can also help. Pharmacists can answer questions people have about items on shelves and assist with product directions.

CVS has essential items covered

Some people don’t use their OTC benefit, and about 70 percent of it goes unspent every year. Those people may not know what the benefit covers or how many of those items can be found within their local CVS store.

The OTC benefit is broad. It may help cover items people use for daily hygiene (things like toothpaste, soap and deodorant) as well as products to manage minor discomforts, such as symptom relief support items for foot pain, headaches and an upset stomach. The OTC benefit may also help cover items that help support wellbeing, such as canes and bathroom grab bars, or help build out a first aid kit for the household.

Some common categories for the Medicare Advantage OTC benefit may include:

• Allergy relief support medication or nasal spray
• Blood pressure monitors
• Adult diapers
• Cold symptom relief support medication
• Compression socks
• Denture adhesive
• Diaper rash cream for infants
• Digital thermometers
• Eye drops
• Hand sanitizer
• Laxatives
• Menstrual pads
• OTC heartburn medications

Specific benefits will vary depending on the plan and where people live. Checking with a Medicaid or Medicare Advantage insurer about a specific benefit might help get a sense of approved items.

Local CVS stores may carry items from most of these eligible categories.

CVS makes shopping and checkout easier

Learning how to redeem OTC benefits takes a little practice. Part of the challenge is knowing if an item will qualify for a plan and then figuring out how to use the benefit to check out.

CVS has helped improve this shopping and checkout experience with consumer-friendly design. This helps Medicaid and Medicare Advantage members find what they need, get the best value and move on with their day.

One of the ways CVS simplifies shopping for Medicare Advantage members is with its blue tag system. Products that are widely eligible for the OTC benefit carry signature blue labels right on the shelves, making them much easier to spot.

CVS as a one-stop health shop

Few places offer as full a range of health services as a CVS location.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans became more familiar with their pharmacies. They became not only their frontline stores, open every day, but also places to get basic care. More than 61 million people got their COVID-19 tests at CVS locations, for instance, and more than 88 million vaccines were administered.

For compassionate and accessible care, MinuteClinic® is conveniently located inside more than 1,000 CVS Pharmacy® and Target stores in 36 states and Washington, DC. These clinics accept most health insurance plans and provide access to board-certified family nurse practitioners and physician associates. MinuteClinic at CVS offers nearly 200 services and treatments. These include chronic condition management, vaccine administration and treatment for minor illness and injury as well as the ability to prescribe medication, all on offer seven days per week — and often by a walk-in appointment.

Many older Americans take advantage of these locations, with their visits to these clinics doubling in the years before the COVID-10 pandemic. And shopping with the OTC benefit in the retail stores just makes a visit that much more convenient.

While people can redeem their OTC benefit in many ways, it makes sense to shop in local stores they trust. For its part, CVS will try its best to help people make the most of their Medicaid and Medicare Advantage dollars — especially when it comes to spending this valuable OTC benefit.