Flex Cards are like pre-paid debit cards that may be included in many Medicare Advantage plans to pay for essential healthcare-related expenses beyond what traditional Medicare typically covers. Depending on your Medicare coverage, you may be eligible for one of these cards to help cover out-of-pocket costs associated with certain health and wellness purchases, and in some cases for groceries and utilities. 

What is a Flex Card?

A Medicare Flex Card is essentially a pre-paid debit card offered by some Medicare Advantage (MA) or Part C plans that allows policy holders to pay for eligible healthcare expenses. The cards are designed to help manage out-of-pocket costs for care and pay for items not typically covered by Medicare.

Not all MA plans offer this benefit, and the types of expenses the card can be used for vary by plan; however, you may be able to use your Flex Card to pay for things like over-the-counter items, dental and vision services, hearing services, and more. The card may also be approved to pay for co-pays and co-insurance.

These cards also do not have limitless funds; the specific amount loaded on the card varies depending on the MA plan offering it. The amount on the cards typically ranges from $250 to $1,500 (though the average amount is usually $500) and users may get money monthly, every three months, or one year’s worth at once.

Find a Medicare plan that includes flex spending cards

How does a Flex Card work?

When you enroll in an MA plan that offers a Flex Card benefit, you’ll receive the card in the mail. When you get it, you’ll likely need to activate it and set up a PIN. Then, you can use the card to pay for eligible expenses at participating pharmacies, vendors, and care providers.

When you use the card, money is taken out of the account for the purchase, similar to how one would use a debit card. You can charge expenses up to the card’s amount, and then you must wait until the card is re-loaded to use it again. Please note you cannot withdraw cash from the card or use it for any purchase you want. The items and expenses must be approved by your plan.

Additionally, the funds may need to be used within a certain timeframe, or only at approved or in-network providers or retailers. Check with your plan to learn more.

Who is eligible for a Flex Card?

Flex Cards are not offered through Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes this benefit, which means you must live in the service area of the plan and enroll during a Medicare enrollment period.

However, not all MA plans offer Flex Cards; availability varies by provider and location. Some plans may also have additional requirements for accessing the Flex Card, like living in certain states, selecting specific plan options, or meeting criteria like chronic illness management needs.

It's important to review the summary of benefits of the MA plans available in your area or speak with a Medicare advisor to learn if a plan offers the Flex Card benefit.

What can I use a Flex Card for?

While exact eligible items and terms may vary, a Flex Card may be used to pay for a variety of healthcare-related costs like dental expenses (cleanings, fillings, dentures, and crowns), vision care (eye exams, prescription glasses, contact lenses), hearing services (exams, hearing aids, batteries for hearing aids), over-the-counter (OTC) items (pain relivers, cold and allergy medicines, first-aid supplies, vitamins), co-pays and deductibles, wellness services (gym memberships, fitness classes), transportation, and more.

Some plans are even expanding what a Flex Card may be used for to include expenses like utilities and other bills, groceries, and even cell phone and cable TV services.

Keep in mind some plans limit which items or services the card can be used for, so it’s essential to review the plan’s summary of benefits. For example, according to KFF.org, in 2024, while 85% of plans offer over-the-counter benefits (typically associated with a Flex Card), that number is expected to decline in 2025 to 73%.

Also note that not every business accepts Flex Card payments, but your plan will likely have a list of retailers who will accept the card.

Pros and Cons of Flex Cards

The primary advantage to Flex Cards is you essentially get a pre-paid debit card to make eligible purchases. While not all expenses are eligible, many are (such as dental, hearing, vision, OTC items, and more). Co-pays and deductibles are also sometimes eligible expenses, helping people save money on these costs.

Using the card is simple: All you do is swipe it to pay for eligible purchases.

However, these cards are only offered by Medicare Advantage plans, not Original Medicare, and very few MA plans actually offer them. Additionally, the average amount on these cards is $500, which can be used quickly depending on the items it’s used to purchase. The restrictions on approved expenses vary from plan to plan, and the cards have a preloaded limit, which may not be sufficient to cover all desired expenses at once.

Note that Medicare Supplement plans, or Medigap, also do not include Flex Card benefits. This is because Medigap plans are designed to help beneficiaries save money on out-of-pocket costs, so the cards aren’t a necessary benefit.

Additional Resources

• ClearMatch Medicare: Find a Medicare Plan
• KFF.org: Medicare Advantage 2025 Spotlight