Medicare Advantage: You Can Now Use Your Supplemental Benefits Online at Walgreens

Walgreens is adding Medicare Advantage (MA) supplemental benefits to its digital channels — Walgreens.com and the Walgreens app.

Consumers have been able to use their MA supplemental benefits at Walgreens stores since 2019, and eligible members can now shop from its catalog of about 1,700 eligible products on its digital channels.The new offering provides additional digital health and well-being offerings such as 30-minute pickup and one-hour delivery of retail products, same-day prescription delivery and discounts.

“Accepting Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits online and on the Walgreens app improves shopping solutions for those who are homebound, have limited mobility or are simply short on time,” Tracey D. Brown, president of Walgreens Retail and Chief Customer Officer, said in a statement.

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Customers can visit their MA plan website or call the number on the back of their MA card to find out if their supplemental benefits are eligible online, Walgreens said.

If you’re eligible, you can use a dedicated landing page to browse eligible items according to your plan. 

Other recently announced Medicare Advantage partnerships include:

• Kroger and healthcare technology company Soda Health’s partnership last December to offer participating Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and employer benefits program enrollees pharmacy benefits, nutrition services and more at Kroger pharmacies. Last August, Kroger and Select Health announced a plan to launch Medicare Advantage plans in select regions of the country, which came available in January 2024.
• Healthcare tech firm Alignment Healthcare's plan offering Instacart as a benefit of certain Medicare Advantage plans in 13 counties across California and Nevada, launched earlier this year. Members with a qualifying chronic condition who enroll in one of the new plans will have access to $50 to $100 in quarterly grocery allowances through Instacart, a complimentary Instacart+ membership with free delivery on all orders over $35, and a curated Alignment Health Virtual Storefront on Instacart for members to shop Alignment’s recommended items.
• Walgreens and Alignment Healthcare teamed up to offer zero-premium Medicare Advantage plans in 10 counties across Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. The plan offers comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage, including a zero-dollar co-pay on more than 10,000 prescription drugs and members will receive access to Alignment’s 24/7 on-demand concierge.
• Supermarket operator Meijer launched an Medicare Advantage plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan last October with benefits that include a zero-dollar monthly premium, as well as zero-dollar annual deductible, primary care visits and copays on many generic prescription drugs. It also provides a $660 in-store allowance that can be used to purchase wellness-related items such as vitamins and bandages, Meijer said.
• Humana partnered with USAA Life Insurance last year to offer another co-branded plan. The companies said their plan is designed for veterans and complements healthcare benefits received through Veterans Affairs. The plan is available for anyone eligible for Medicare in eight states, however, the companies said.

Medicare.gov offers guidance on plans

Medicare pays private companies that it approves to offer Medicare benefits under Medicare Advantage plans, also referred to as “Part C.”

For details on the types of plans available in your area, visit Medicare.gov or call  1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

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