What Is a Medicare Flex Card?

Some Medicare Advantage enrollees receive Medicare flex cards. As part of their benefits, these pre-paid debit cards can be useful for covering qualifying expenses. The U.S. government does not issue Medicare flex cards. This benefit is only available on select Medicare Advantage plans, a private alternative to Medicare.

Traditional Medicare (or Original Medicare) does not offer flex cards. Certain Medicare Advantage plans provide their enrollees with flex cards that can pay for qualifying goods and services.

Plans offering a flex card typically supply a quarterly or annual allowance. On average, Medicare flex cards contain $500 of debit; it is rare to receive more, according to Medicare FAQ.

Plans differ as far as what types of expenses cardholders can pay for with the flex card. Be sure to consult with your plan on its specific rules. You may be able to use your flex card to cover such expenses (including medical expenses) as the following:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications
• A grocery allowance for healthy food, such as whole fruits, vegetables, and proteins
• Co-payments for dental, hearing, and vision appointments
• Eyeglasses and contact lenses
• Hearing aids
• Dentures
• OTC medical supplies

While Medicare flex cards cover certain expenses, they will not cover all expenses. Cardholders cannot use these cards to pay for processed food, restaurant meals, electricity, or rent. The plan administrator must approve the items for which the Medicare recipient can use the card.

Who Qualifies for the Flex Card?

You are eligible for a Medicare flex card if you qualify for a Medicare Advantage Plan with a flex card benefit. To enroll in Medicare Advantage, you must:

• be eligible for traditional Medicare Part A and Part B.

• be 65 years or older or have a qualifying disability. (Those who receive Social Security disability benefits for at least two years become eligible for Medicare.)
• have paid taxes into the Medicare trust funds through your work or a spouse’s work.

In addition, note that whether you can obtain a Medicare Advantage plan with a flex card could in some cases depend on your location. Medicare Advantage plans have specific service areas where they operate.

Privately run Medicare plans are common, and more and more people are signing up for them. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that more than 30 million people had a Medicare Advantage plan in 2023. They now constitute more than half of the eligible Medicare population at 51percent.

These plans accounted for 55 percent of all federal Medicare spending. In 2023, the average beneficiary could choose from 43 Medicare Advantage plans. (However, not every one of these plans necessarily offered a flex card benefit.)

Medicare Advantage Considerations

While Medicare Advantage may offer additional benefits compared to traditional Medicare, it can also be more expensive. Depending on the situation, the plan’s cost might not be worth the flex card benefit.

If you are considering enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, be wary of predatory marketing tactics.

Misleading Claims About Medicare Flex Cards

According to AARP, some advertisements present misleading claims about Medicare Advantage flex cards. Ads may say Medicare flex cards for seniors come with thousands of dollars from the U.S. government to spend on anything they wish. Preying on unsuspecting consumers, devious marketers may direct viewers to websites requesting such personal information as your Social Security number or credit card numbers.

A similar scam claims to provide individuals with new Medicare cards but takes personal information for wrongful use. If you need a replacement card, you can call Medicare (800-633-4227) or download the card from your Medicare account. No representative from Medicare will call you to send you a new card.

To stay safe from scammers, keep the following points in mind:

• You will not receive a valid flex card if you have traditional Medicare, as this program does not offer such debit cards. Anyone offering you a new Medicare card is likely a predator.
• If you have Medicare Advantage, review your plan to determine whether a flex card is part of your benefits. Remember that it is unlikely the allowance will be in the thousands of dollars.

Contact an Elder Law Attorney

If you are eligible for Medicare, meet with a qualified elder law attorney to discuss whether a Medicare Advantage plan with a flex card is right for you.

An attorney can help you make decisions and protect yourself from misleading claims; find an elder law attorney near you today.