Live Well, Age Wisely: Does my insurance plan have extra benefits I'm not using?

Laura Thomas

Director of Aging Well, Prairie 5 Community Action Council

In the last few years, insurance companies have begun adding new extra benefits to their Medicare Advantage plans. While most have included some form of hearing, dental, and vision coverage for years, many now offer an over-the-counter allowance for qualifying purchases. Some even have special discounts or coupons for food. A number of people who have these benefits aren't using them- because they aren't aware that their plan includes them!

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, now is a great time to review your coverage details to make sure that money which has been set aside for you as part of your plan isn't going to waste. If you aren't sure what type of coverage you have, here are a few clues that you have an Advantage Plan. You have one insurance card for both your health and your Part D coverage, and the card says HMO or PPO on it. (There are a few Advantage plans that do not include drug coverage – these are popular among veterans who have drug coverage through the VA.)

Plan materials can get overwhelming with lots of jargon to wade through. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan and would like to go over the extras it includes, I'd love to help you take a look. I have details on all plans available in Prairie Five's service area (Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, and Yellow Medicine counties) and details on all plans sold in Minnesota can be found at Medicare.gov. We can do this over the phone or in-person. I can be reached at 320-226-8861.

There are usually parameters in which the over-the-counter allowance works. The allowance may be used in-person at a specific pharmacy, by a mail order option through a catalog, or through a specific web site. Some plans include $25, $50, or even $75 for you to spend quarterly and others offer an amount twice a year. What kind of products are covered by the over-the-counter allowance? Vitamins, pain relievers, first aid supplies, allergy relief, and eye drops, just to name a few. Remember, this allowance is part of the coverage you're paying for with your monthly premium and it frees up money to spend in your local pharmacy or grocery store for other items.

A word of caution: if you receive a call from someone who claims to be a representative from an insurance company and wants to send out products that may be helpful or schedule an appointment to visit your home to talk more about your health insurance, this is a scam red flag. In fact, due to the lack of communication from insurance plans, the federal government ruled that beginning in 2026, Medicare Advantage plans must send a personalized notice between June 30th and July 31st to each beneficiary who has unused supplemental benefits from the first half of the year. This goes to show that hearing from a legitimate representative from your insurance plan is very rare.

It's shocking and frankly disturbing how complex and personalized scams by "insurance reps" has become. If someone reaches out to you, the best practice is to contact the number on the back of your insurance card to verify it's legitimacy before proceeding. There's no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to Medicare or protecting ourselves from scams! Don't hesitate to call me at 320-226-8861 if you have concerns about your insurance or want to make sure you're getting the most out of your coverage.