Plans are increasingly adding more and more supplemental benefits compromising the member experience, which can lead to an increase in grievances. There are so many variations on the benefits offered. In many cases, you can enroll for health care coverage with the company online. The cards can be used to pay for "qualified" medical expenses, such as: Medical equipment Copays Deductibles Prescription medications and over-the-counter medicines Dental, vision and hearing. Updated. Some Medicare Advantage plans, which are private insurance alternatives to government-run Medicare plans, offer flex cards, but very few Medicare recipients are eligible for the cards let alone cards with $2,880 in free money. Our team of dedicated, licensed agents can help you as little or as much as you need. BTW ~ THANK YOU!!! Its really overwhelming being seniors and having to navigate scams while trying to be healthy and protect ourselves from so much, including physical crimes. Barbara. It gives her $150.00 every three months, $ 450.00 a year and $ 50.00 every month, 600 a year. Flex cards are debit cards beneficiaries can use to purchase medical equipment and items. Why Should Senior Citizens Perform Balance Exercises? Today, we hope to help clear up some of that confusion. If you have further helpful information, post that here too. No one that I know. Although some major carriers offer plans with flex cards, they are not part of most available plans. Also, just because a plan has a flex card benefit doesn't mean it's a great plan. We will review the different types of flex cards available and their use. Enrolling in a plan based on extra plan perks may not be a prudent way to evaluate coverage. And some other medically necessary expenses. Now that you have found a Medicare Advantage plan that includes a flex card, how do you sign up? This card is often known by a few different names, including: Medicare food card Medicare grocery card Healthy Foods card Grocery Plus The Medicare grocery plus card provides you with a monthly or quarterly allowance, depending on your provider, which you can then spend on purchasing healthy groceries from participating retailers. Is your husband on Medicare already? Provide them with your personal information, like your name, address, and other identifying information, to get signed up. DarkoStojanovic/Pixabay The easiest way to do this is by using the Medicare plan finder tool at Medicare.gov. PSNoEmail@Address.net is not my real address. Flex cards are only available through certain Medicare Advantage plans, and the average amount loaded onto the cards is about $500. Not long ago my husband received an aetna payflex card. Flex cards are pre-loaded with information that can be used to pay for Medicare-covered and non-covered . It seems like false advertising to me. Even though we are seeing more private Medicare Advantage plans provide this benefit, they arent common. However, this is entirely not true. You can replace your Medicare card in one of the following ways if it was lost, stolen, or destroyed: Log into your MyMedicare.gov account and request one. Aetna shouldnt be able to charge you anything without your consent. Flex cards are not part of the federal Medicare program and Medicare does not distribute these cards. He is featured in many publications as well as writes regularly for other expert columns regarding Medicare. We have already mentioned the fact that not all Advantage plans include a flex card. The flex cards are only available through certain Medicare Advantage plans. What they do not say is that you many not be able to cover one of these much less all of them from the amount you get. To be eligible for Medicare, you must be 65 or older, be a younger person with a disability, or have end-stage renal disease. Info For Inquiring Minds! And that it is free. For example, you could swipe your flex card to pay for the copay at your doctors visit. Medicare flex card eligibility for groceries will vary with the plan. These cards are usually linked to a debit or credit card, work like an FSA, and can be a valuable plan to offset the costs of specific Medicare benefits. * How it Works Your Flex Card gives you easy access to the funds in your Flex Account by swiping the card at the point of sale. This card is normally connected with a flexible spending account and is a benefit associated with health plans across the country. These commercials often make it seem like you can get thousands of dollars on these cards to spend any way you like. Private Medicare Advantage plans distribute the cards in these ads not Original Medicare. How I Make Money Online as a Senior Citizen; It Takes Work! Although it might seem great to get free money, there are many other factors you should take into consideration. Theres a lot of uncertainty and confusion surrounding this benefit included in some Medicare Advantage plans. They are only available as an additional benefit in specific plans nationwide. I welcome your comments. These cards, issued by private insurance companies, are only available on specific plans. Remember that you cannot simply change Medicare plans at any time during the year. They want to make a sale! 2023 Medicare Advantage Plan Benefits explained in plain text. What is a Medicare Flex Card? Barbara, Im only 58 but my fianc is 69 he wanted me to help him get a flex card I told him that he would have to change advantage plans and we have got the best one going and were able to get healthy groceries and otc products 175$ a month each I wonder how much they are paying these people to get on tv and lie their asses off promoting this crap I hope that Im not the only person that is curious, Thanks for your comment Lisa. But thank you for your input. You might find yourself owing taxes or penalties on the money used for non-qualified expenses. Medicare Flex Cards arent available as a Medigap plan benefit. Best to you! And finally the dentist did a brief exam and then told me I would need up to $2,000 worth of work done. Enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan requires you to meet the essential, Once you have determined that you are eligible for Medicare, you will need to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that offers the flex card benefit. I checked into the advantage plans. What songs should play at your funeral? Scam Alerts for Seniors Part 2, What is a Scam and How to Avoid Them? Lastly, you can look for help through independent organizations. Flex cards hold money that can be used like a debit card to pay for certain medical expenses, like doctor's visits, prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and other out-of-pocket medical expenses. Spending more than necessary for healthcare is frustrating. - Ray C. My agent was outstanding. The insurance agent on the phone explained the same. Medicare supplement insurance is an extension of Original Medicare that helps pay for out-of-pocket expenses not covered by Original Medicare. You have probably seen ads for the flex card. However, to participate in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must be willing to abide by strict networks and higher out-of-pocket costs. Thanks for your comments. Find coverage that's right for you. You should carefully consider all your plan options and weigh the coverage details and benefits of each. We can help find the right Medicare plans for you today. You can visit the. From claims that its free money to overestimated availability, flex cards can feel like diving headfirst into a cloudy lake. What is a Medicare flex card? Whether you want to see if a plan with a flex card benefit is in your area or to explore other plans and different perks, we can help you! The Wellcare Flex Card is a prepaid Visa debit card that . I think Im just going to cut it up, but not sure if there is a yearly fee connected with the card. I dont like HMO either, but they usually are the cheapest. I do not know if she can opt out of that and get more in her SS monthly check. Barbara, Hi Barbara, Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. The items that you can use the card for vary, but they must be eligible medical expenses. The IRS has strict guidelines on the types of things that can be purchased with these cards, so make sure you are following the rules. Its all pretty much a big scam. How do you qualify for a senior Flex Card? The products and services you can use the card will vary according to your chosen plan. Your Blue Advantage Flex Card is a prepaid debit card that helps pay for out-of-pocket costs, including: $500 for prescription hearing aids $225 for eyeglasses and contacts $200 for over-the-counter supplies ($50 per quarter) Quarter 1 (January, February, March) Quarter 2 (April, May, June) Quarter 3 (July, August, September) Our new Benefits Breakdown series is designed to help you learn more about Medicare benefits for seniors that you may be unaware of. What is a Ring Doorbell? Is the Jitterbug Smart2 User Friendly? If you do not want to share your information please click on, Insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans. What is a Medicare Flex Card? Plain text explanation available for any plan in any state. If not, be sure to use their official site to sign up. No. I am not going to use the name of the company. First red flag! Since the free money associated with these cards is enticing, scammers get many people to fall for their tricks. Flex cards are not available through Medicare supplement plans (Medigap plans). Come on, nothing is free. Want to know more? Thus, these cards are not part of the government-run program. Typically linked to a flexible spending account, these cards are a benefit linked to qualifying health plans throughout the nation. Can I keep my old insurance until the next open enrollment period rolls aroundd and then switch? I have to do an advantage plan as I am 76 years old and any other plan costs about $200 a month and who on SS (I do have a pension also) can afford $2,400 a year for a medical plan. Once the card arrives, you can begin using it for qualified medical expenses like copays, deductibles, OTC medications, and other expenses. Scam Alerts for Seniors Part 3, What is a Scam and How to Avoid Them? These include: Currently in circulation are advertisements for Medicare-supplied flex cards from various carriers. Barbara. Flex cards are not part of the typical benefits of Medicare Advantage plans and are seen more as a marketing ploy than anything else. Many companies give you the option of checking your balance online. Also, good to know that people are reading this post, because I think the Flex card is a ripoff. These companies dont care about you; only your money. Maybe one of the agencies I listed can help you. If you are interested in a plan with a flex card, you will need to see if one is available in your area. Its bad enough we have to pay for an Alzheimer drug I dont need, yet Medicare recipients on Eliquis dont get help paying for it. But you will be encouraged to do so. Does Medicare Have a Flex Card for Seniors? While there may be one plan with this benefit, its unavailable in all areas or for all beneficiaries. Elliot has spent years providing clear and concise information to help navigate the complex nuances of social security and many other government services in the United States. Thanks for commenting. Transportation - Receive a certain amount of rides at no cost. Medicare itself doesnt offer this benefit. They usually have their own practices and are not part of a group. Hi, I have Humana insurance I would like to know how to go back to Medicare if you could give me some info sure would appreciate it very much thank you for your time. And Its Free! I know it can be a challenge as I was a caregiver for my Mom, although I had help. What Time Does Walmart Open Tomorrow Morning00:00 - What is a senior flex card?00:24 - What is the Medicare $900 grocery benefit?00:49 - Does everyone on Med. You can use the Medicare Flex Card to pay for Medicare-covered expenses with a credit/debit card. Review of WOW! Different plans have different rules, and their cards may cover different items. A flex card is a prepaid credit or debit card provided by an insurance plan for use on certain health-related costs. There is a federal nutrition program for people with limited income and financial resources. And you can get it for free, and get up to $2,800. Do not give them your name, address, Medicare number, Social Security number, or other personal information. Then it stated that we should log into AetnaMedicare.com if there are any questions. They will use terms such as free money with your Medicare coverage. Are You a Senior That Wants To Build a Website? Now I had heard nothing of these problems from my other dentist! Flex cards. So I wonder how they can do this without legal ramifications. Home / Blog / Medicare News / Does Medicare Have a Flex Card for Seniors? Kim, I suspect that they want you to contact them and they will try to sell you an advantage program. Reach out and give us a call to compare your options so you can make an informed coverage choice. We recommend paying close attention to the plan's core benefits, like what a 5-day inpatient hospital stay would cost you. 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