Senior man and woman with healthy groceries and an over-the-counter item

Over-the-Counter Items Benefit

Most Peoples Health plans offer an over-the-counter (OTC) benefit with a specified credit amount to spend on approved items. The benefit varies by plan.

Shop in-store at participating retailers, including Walmart and Sam's Club, or buy items online. Credit amounts vary by plan and expire at the end of a specified time frame. 

What OTC items are covered?


Covered OTC items include generic and brand health and wellness products, including first aid, pain relief and dental health. See your plan materials for product types. Products and prices may change at any time.

Local sales tax is added to purchases and deducted from your credit balance. Sales tax is based on your address and varies by parish.

OTC icon, Band-aid

Pick your plan and find a store near you:

OTC Credit: How to Buy Items


Use your UCard to buy approved OTC items through the methods below. Check your credit balance and look up approved items through your member website or mobile app. You can also scan product price codes with the app when shopping in-store to see if an item is covered.

HMO-POS PLANS

  • Peoples Health Choices 65 (HMO-POS)
  • Peoples Health Extras (HMO-POS)
  • Peoples Health Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx LA (HMO-POS)

Shop In-Store

Find a participating
retailer near you.

 

Order Online

It's fast and easy through
your member website.


Order by Phone

1-833-845-8798 (TTY: 711)
October through March
:
7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
April through September:
Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
and Sat-Sun, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

OTC, Food and Utility Bill Credit: How to Buy Items*  


Use your UCard to buy approved OTC items through the methods below. Check your credit balance and look up approved items through your member website or mobile app. You can also scan product price codes with the app when shopping in-store to see if an item is covered.

Members with a qualifying condition and who meet other qualifying criteria are able to use the credit to buy healthy food and pay eligible utility bills, like electricity, gas, water and internet. If you qualify, pay eligible utility bills through your member website, by phone, or at your local Walmart MoneyCenter. You may be able to pay utility bills directly with your utility company. 

For more information about qualifying to use the credit for healthy food and utilities, click here.

HMO-POS D-SNPs

  • Peoples Health Secure Health (HMO-POS D-SNP)
  • Peoples Health Secure Complete (HMO-POS D-SNP)
  • Peoples Health Dual Complete LA-S5 (HMO-POS D-SNP)

Shop In-Store

Find a participating
retailer near you.

 

Order Online

It's fast and easy through
your member website.

 

Order by Phone

1-833-853-8587 (TTY: 711)
October through March
:
7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
April through September:
Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
and Sat-Sun, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

OTC and Food Credit: How to Buy Items†  


Use your UCard to buy approved OTC items through the methods below. Check your credit balance and look up approved items through your member website or mobile app. You can also scan product price codes with the app when shopping in-store to see if an item is covered. Members with a qualifying condition and who meet other qualifying criteria are also able to use the credit to buy healthy food. 

For more information about qualifying to use the credit for healthy food, click here.

HMO-POS C-SNPs

  • Peoples Health Complete Care LA-5 (HMO-POS C-SNP)
  • Peoples Health Complete Care LA-6 (HMO-POS C-SNP)
  • Peoples Health Complete Care LA-7 (HMO-POS C-SNP)

Shop In-Store

Find a participating
retailer near you.

 

Order Online

It's fast and easy through
your member website.

 

Order by Phone

1-833-845-8798 (TTY: 711)
October through March:
7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
April through September:
Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
and Sat-Sun, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

OTC Credit for Peoples Health Group Medicare: How to Buy Items


Eligible Peoples Health Group Medicare members receive a single prefilled debit card to buy approved items through the methods below. Check your credit balance and look up approved items through your member website or mobile app. You can also scan product price codes with the app when shopping in-store to see if an item is covered.

GROUP PLAN

  • Peoples Health Group Medicare (HMO-POS)

Shop In-Store

Find a participating
retailer near you.
 

Order Online

It's fast and easy through 
your member website.
 

Order by Phone

1-833-216-6709 (TTY: 711)
October through March:
7 days a week, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
April through September
Mon-Fri, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

The year is divided into four quarters: Jan. 1 – March 31, April 1 – June 30, July 1 – Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 – Dec. 31.

Free shipping may be available when you order through approved ways for home delivery. With some plans or in some instances, you may be required to meet a minimum purchase requirement to qualify for free shipping.

Qualifying members in a plan that offers a food benefit may pay a delivery fee to have fresh grocery items delivered.

Members must have a qualifying condition to be eligible for the utility bill benefit. If you're eligible, you can use your credit to pay eligible utility bills, like electricity, gas, water and internet.

You can pay utility bills:

  • Through your member website
    • Have your bill handy when you add a utility provider's information to the system for the first time as a payee.
    • Then you can make a payment and review your payment history.

  • At your local Walmart MoneyCenter
    • Be sure to bring your UCard, an ID and a copy of your utility bill to get set up with bill pay.

  • Directly to your utility company
    • Some utility providers allow you to submit payments directly. Payments may take several days to be processed.

You may have been prompted to set up a pin when you activated your UCard. You should not need to use your pin in most instances at retail stores. 

If you're enrolled in a D-SNP and qualify to use your UCard to pay utility bills, you may need your pin to make payments directly to a utility provider.


Benefits, features and/or devices may vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply. OTC benefits have expiration time frames. Review your Evidence of Coverage for more information.

*For D-SNPs:
OTC, food, utility and wellness support benefits have expiration timeframes. Review your Evidence of Coverage (EOC) for more information. The healthy food and utilities benefit is a special supplemental benefit available only to chronically ill enrollees with a qualifying condition, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, chronic heart failure, chronic high blood pressure and/or chronic high cholesterol, who also meet plan criteria indicating they are at high risk for hospitalization and eligible for intensive care coordination. There may be other qualifying chronic conditions not listed. If you use this benefit for certain utilities, it may be considered income for housing assistance. Check with your housing authority for details. Shipping terms and minimum order requirements may vary by plan.

†For C-SNPs:
OTC and food benefits have expiration timeframes. Review your Evidence of Coverage (EOC) for more information. The healthy food benefit is a special supplemental benefit available only to chronically ill enrollees with a qualifying condition, such as diabetes, chronic heart failure and/or cardiovascular disorders, who also meet plan criteria indicating they are at high risk for hospitalization and eligible for intensive care coordination. Shipping terms and minimum order requirements may vary by plan.