Medicare Advantage plans pack in benefits that most members never use. Flex cards for groceries. Free rides to the doctor. Free gym memberships. Allowances for dental and vision. Some plans even give cash back on your Part B premium. Most members use one or two of these and let the rest sit. Here are 10 worth claiming.
1. The flex card or OTC allowance
Most Medicare Advantage plans give you a monthly or quarterly allowance for over-the-counter items. The amount ranges from $25 to $200 a month. You can use it for pain relievers, vitamins, first aid, cold and flu medicine, and sometimes incontinence supplies.
Some plans now expand the flex card to cover groceries, utility bills, and even rent for members with chronic conditions. Read your plan's Evidence of Coverage to see what is on the list. Many members forget the money is there and lose it each quarter.
2. Grocery allowance for chronic conditions
If you have a chronic condition like diabetes, heart disease, or COPD, some Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) include a monthly grocery allowance. Amounts range from $25 to $150 per month at participating stores like Walmart, Kroger, and certain regional chains.
Eligible items are usually healthy foods like fresh produce, dairy, lean meats, and whole grains. Junk food and alcohol are excluded. This is one of the most generous Medicare Advantage benefits and almost nobody talks about it.
3. Free transportation to medical visits
Many Medicare Advantage plans include free non-emergency medical transportation. The plan picks you up and drops you off at the doctor's office, pharmacy, or even a Medicare-approved fitness center.
You usually have to schedule the ride 24 to 72 hours in advance. The benefit might cover 24 one-way trips per year, or unlimited rides depending on the plan. Members who don't drive miss out on this constantly.
4. Free gym membership
Most Medicare Advantage plans include free access to fitness programs. The biggest are SilverSneakers, Renew Active (UnitedHealthcare), and Silver and Fit. These give you a free membership at thousands of participating gyms, plus online classes and home workouts.
SilverSneakers alone has over 16,000 participating gyms in the US. If you don't have it active, log into your plan portal or call member services and ask them to set you up.
5. Vision exam plus eyewear allowance
Original Medicare doesn't cover routine vision care. Most Medicare Advantage plans do. A typical benefit covers:
- One free routine eye exam per year
- $100 to $300 allowance for frames or contacts
- Sometimes a free pair of single-vision lenses
You usually have to use an in-network optical provider like LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, or Walmart Vision. Some plans partner with EyeMed or VSP.
6. Dental cleanings and annual allowance
Original Medicare doesn't cover routine dental. Most Medicare Advantage plans include:
- Two free dental cleanings per year
- X-rays at no cost
- $500 to $2,000 annual allowance for fillings, crowns, dentures
Some plans have higher dental benefits if you stay in the plan's preferred network. Always check the allowance amount and the network before scheduling expensive work.
7. Hearing aid allowance
Hearing aids out of pocket cost $2,000 to $7,000 per pair. Medicare Advantage plans often include hearing benefits:
- Free hearing test once a year
- $500 to $2,500 allowance toward hearing aids
- Sometimes access to a discount hearing aid program like TruHearing
If you have hearing loss and are on Medicare Advantage, this is one of the highest-value benefits in the plan.
8. Meals delivered after a hospital stay
Many Medicare Advantage plans include short-term meal delivery after you leave the hospital. Typically you get 14 to 28 prepared meals delivered to your home over 1 to 2 weeks.
Companies like Mom's Meals or Magic Kitchen handle delivery. The meals are designed for recovery and are usually dietitian-approved. You have to request the benefit, often through a discharge planner at the hospital. Most members never ask.
9. Acupuncture for back pain
Original Medicare started covering acupuncture for chronic lower back pain in 2020. You get up to 12 visits in 90 days, plus 8 more if there is improvement. The visits have to be from a Medicare-approved acupuncturist.
Many Medicare Advantage plans expanded this benefit to cover more types of pain and more visits per year. If you have ongoing pain and have not tried acupuncture, this is worth asking about.
10. Telehealth visits at low or no cost
Most Medicare Advantage plans now offer free or low-cost telehealth visits with your doctor or a network telehealth provider like Teladoc or MDLive. You can see a doctor 24/7 by phone or video for everything from cold symptoms to mental health.
For minor issues, telehealth can save you an office visit, copay, and an hour of waiting. Read our Medicare telehealth guide for the broader picture.
Bonus benefits worth asking about
- 24/7 nurse hotline: Free unlimited calls to a nurse for symptom advice
- Caregiver support: Hours of paid in-home help for caregivers
- Fitness tracker subsidy: Discount on Fitbit, Apple Watch, or similar
- Pet care benefits: A few plans cover vet visits or pet food allowance for emotional support pets
- Gym discounts: Even on plans without SilverSneakers, some include direct gym discounts
How to find out what's in your plan
- Look at your plan's Evidence of Coverage document. Most members never open it.
- Log into your plan's online portal. Many plans show your unused allowances on the dashboard.
- Call member services and ask them to list every benefit. Specifically ask about flex card, transportation, meals, dental, vision, and hearing.
- Talk to your independent Medicare agent. A good agent reviews benefits with you every year.
The bottom line
You are already paying for these benefits through your Medicare Advantage plan. Not using them is leaving money on the table. Spend 30 minutes this week to figure out what your plan includes, then use it. The average Medicare Advantage member leaves $500 to $1,500 in benefits unused each year.
