Medicare & Long-Term Care OTC (Over-the-Counter) Plus Card

Staying healthy is easier with a Healthfirst OTC Plus card. Save on items you use every day, such as toothpaste, eye drops, aspirin, and more, when you shop at participating neighborhood stores and select online retailers, with free home-delivery options available.

If you have questions about your new OTC Plus card, download the guide to using your card below.

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Benefits overview How the OTC Plus card works How to activate and use your OTC Plus card Limitations Resources Looking for a Medicare Advantage plan with OTC?

Benefits overview

If you’re a Healthfirst Medicare Advantage plan member with an OTC Plus card, you have the flexibility to spend your benefit in more ways and at more places.

Use your OTC Plus card to pay for non-prescription drugs, health-related items, exercise equipment, and activity trackers.

Eligible members can also use it to buy healthy foods at farmers' markets and other participating retailers, and pay for home utilities such as gas, oil, electric, water, and internet service.*

Remember to activate your OTC Plus card and bring it with you to participating pharmacies and other retailers, as you cannot use your Healthfirst Member ID, Medicaid ID, or Medicare card to purchase OTC items.

Plans with an OTC Plus Card

You get $175 each month to use for:

  • OTC and health-related items
  • Healthy foods*
  • Home utilities*
  • Exercise equipment and activity trackers
  • Personal emergency response systems (PERS)

You get $252 each month to use for:

  • OTC and health-related items
  • Healthy foods*
  • Home utilities*
  • Exercise equipment and activity trackers

CompleteCare members may qualify for PERS. Contact Member Services to see if you're eligible.

You get $55 each month to use for:

  • OTC and health-related items
  • Healthy foods*
  • Home utilities*
  • Exercise equipment and activity trackers
  • Personal emergency response systems (PERS)

You get $35 each month to use for:

  • OTC and health-related items
  • Exercise equipment and activity trackers
  • Personal emergency response systems (PERS)

You get $25 each month to use for:

  • OTC and health-related items
  • Exercise equipment and activity trackers
  • Personal emergency response systems (PERS)

*Healthy foods and home utilities are special supplemental benefits for members enrolled in a Healthfirst dual-eligible special needs plan. To be eligible, you must have a chronic condition such as cardiovascular disorder, disabling mental health condition, diabetes, lung disorders, obesity, or another eligible condition not listed. Benefit eligibility is not based on your chronic condition alone.

How the OTC Plus card works

Purchase non-prescription drugs and health-related items such as aspirin, vitamins, eye drops, laxatives, and more at participating pharmacies and other retailers. Log in to your Healthfirst account at MyHFNY.org, or use the Healthfirst NY Mobile App for a list of approved items and participating retailers.

Buy OTC and health-related items online at walmart.com and instacart.com.

You can also shop online with no-cost delivery at conveyhfotc.com/login or log in to MyHFNY.com to automatically access your Convey account.

If eligible, you can purchase healthy foods from participating retailers and farmers’ markets. Examples of approved food items are fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy, rice, pasta, beans, and much more. Visit MyHFNY.org, or use the Healthfirst NY Mobile App for a list of approved items and participating retailers.

Shop at your local grocery store
  • Visit MyHFNY.org to find a participating location near you.
Save on fresh fruits, vegetables, and more at GrowNYC locations
  • Use the OTC Plus card at Greenmarkets, Farmstands, or Fresh Food Box locations in GrowNYC’s network.
  • Visit grownyc.org/greenmarket/ourmarkets to locate a GrowNYC food retail site near you.
  • Go to the administrative tent at these locations and the GrowNYC attendant will show you how to use your OTC Plus card.
  • Depending on the GrowNYC location, you will either be able to:
    • swipe your card to purchase your food, or
    • receive “Healthfirst-GrowNYC Greenmarket Bucks”, which can then be exchanged for healthy food at these locations.
Buy healthy foods online
  • Visit walmart.com or instacart.com
  • Visit conveyhfotc.com/login or log in to MyHFNY.org to automatically access your Convey account. You can also call 1-855-816-0988 (TTY 711), Monday to Friday, 8am–11pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8am–8pm.
  • Order non-perishable foods and stock up on approved items such as canned vegetables, dried pasta, and more.

Have freshly prepared meals or produce boxes delivered to your home with Mom’s Meals

  • Life Improvement Plan and Connection Plan members can use the OTC Plus card to have freshly prepared meals or produce boxes from Mom’s Meals delivered to their home.
  • Visit momsmeals.com/healthfirst. Use the discount code Healthfirst to receive free shipping.
  • Call 1-877-347-3438, Monday to Friday, 8am–7pm. Please identify yourself as a Healthfirst member to receive free shipping. You will not need to provide your Member ID number.

CompleteCare members may qualify for home-delivered meals without using their OTC Plus allowance. Contact Member Services to see if you are eligible.

Purchase exercise equipment and activity trackers (such as Apple® Watches, pedometers, and other fitness watches) through participating retailers and Convey. Visit conveyhfotc.com/login or log in to MyHFNY.org to automatically access your Convey account.

If eligible, you can use your OTC Plus card to pay for your home utilities (gas, oil, electric, water, and internet service) if your utility service provider is on our approved list (e.g., NYC Water Board, Consolidated Edison, National Grid, Spectrum, and others).

You can make your payment directly to your utility company or internet service provider by calling them or using their payment website.

Life Improvement Plan, Connection Plan, Increased Benefits Plan, and 65 Plus Plan members only: Use your OTC Plus card towards your purchase of a PERS. Personal emergency response systems give you 24/7 access to help in the event of an emergency (for example, a fall). Each emergency response system is powered by Lifestation, and you must order your PERS device and monthly service through Lifestation. Order your PERS through Lifestation by calling (888) 360-8108. Visit lifestation.com/healthfirst to see covered devices.

CompleteCare members may qualify for PERS. Contact Member Services to see if you’re eligible.

The OTC Plus card cannot be converted to cash, nor can it be used to purchase Part B or Part D prescription drugs. Certain brands may not be eligible at all locations. The list of eligible items may vary from month to month. Items may change, depending on availability. Limitations and restrictions may apply.

Log in to MyHFNY.org or call 1-833-684-8472 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to activate your OTC Plus card and for a list of approved items and participating pharmacies and retailers. Please have your OTC Plus card with your 16-digit member benefit card number ready.

How to activate and use your OTC Plus card

Step 1

Activate your card by calling 1-833-684-8472
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week), or log in to MyHFNY.org

You’ll need to provide:
  • The OTC Plus card number on the front of the card
  • Your Healthfirst Medicare plan Member ID card number

Step 2

Visit a participating location in person, or buy online at walmart.com, instacart.com, ConveyOTC, or log in to MyHFNY.org

Take your activated Healthfirst OTC Plus card to a participating store and select the approved items you want to purchase.

You can use your Healthfirst OTC Plus card at locations such as:
  • Retailers like Stop & Shop, Duane Reade, Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, and Family Dollar
  • Many local independent pharmacies
  • GrowNYC locations*
  • For guidance on how to use your OTC Plus card at farmers' markets, please visit the information table

For a complete list of participating pharmacies and retailers, use the Healthfirst NY Mobile App, or log in to MyHFNY.org.

You can also call our Member Services Representatives at 1-888-260-1010 (TTY 1-888-542-3821), 7 days a week, 8am–8pm (October through March), and Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm (April through September).

Step 3

Pay for your items

At local retailers, take your items to the checkout lanes. When you check out, swipe your OTC Plus card for payment. Purchases of approved items are automatically deducted from your card balance.

Bring your OTC Plus card with you, as you cannot use your Healthfirst Member ID card or Medicare card to purchase OTC items. If you forget your card, you can access a digital version within the Healthfirst NY Mobile App.

Limitations

Maximum limits on OTC Plus cards

You will receive an OTC Plus card which has a VISA logo, but it does not work like typical VISA debit or credit cards. Your OTC Plus card will have a maximum amount you can use to buy approved OTC non-prescription drugs, health-related items, and more at participating pharmacies and retailers.

Your OTC allowance works only during the current benefit period; the amount does not carry over to future benefit periods. Questions? View your Evidence of Coverage or contact Member Services.

Important points to remember

  • To receive your allowance, please activate your card before trying to use it
  • The OTC Plus card has a VISA logo; however, it works differently than a typical VISA card. Members may only use their cards for eligible items with participating retailers/vendors.
  • When you check out at a participating retailer/vendor, swipe your OTC Plus card for payment. If you are prompted to enter a PIN, cancel the transaction and process it as a “credit” transaction.
  • Eligible items may be purchased only for the enrollee, not for family members or friends
  • The OTC Plus card cannot be converted to cash
  • The OTC Plus card cannot be used to purchase Part B or Part D prescription drugs
  • You may only use your allowance in each benefit period; you cannot borrow against a future benefit period allowance (this is not a credit card)
  • Any unused balances will automatically expire at the end of each month, or upon disenrollment or transfer to another Healthfirst plan
  • You cannot use your Healthfirst Member ID card or Medicare card to pay for non-prescription drugs, health-related items, healthy foods, produce, or home utilities
  • Activity trackers and personal emergency response systems are limited to one device per member

OTC Plus card lost or stolen?

If your card is lost or stolen, please report it immediately by calling Member Services

1-888-260-1010

Resources

Pharmacies and retailers

For a complete list of participating pharmacies and retailers, you can use the Healthfirst NY Mobile App, or visit MyHFNY.org.

Reimbursement

You may be eligible for reimbursement if you have trouble paying with your OTC Plus card. To learn more, please use the Healthfirst NY Mobile App, or by logging in to MyHFNY.org.

Or call Member Services at 1-888-260-1010 (TTY English: 1-888-542-3821, TTY Español: 1-888-867-4132), 7 days a week, 8am–8pm (October to March), and Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm (April to September).

Eligible items and services

Learn more about the items and services you can purchase with your OTC Plus card by using the Healthfirst NY Mobile App, logging in to MyHFNY.org, or downloading a guide below.

Looking for a Medicare Advantage plan with OTC?

Looking for $0 premiums, OTC Card benefits, a large network, or home care options? Whatever your need, we’ve got a plan for you. Healthfirst is one of New York's largest not-for-profit health insurers, with the largest Medicare Advantage membership in the NY metropolitan area.

Find the right Medicare Advantage plan for you

Disclaimers

Coverage is provided by Healthfirst Health Plan, Inc. and/or Healthfirst PHSP, Inc. (together, "Healthfirst"), which offer HMO plans with a Medicare contract and a contract with the NY State Medicaid program. Enrollment in Healthfirst Medicare Plan depends on contract renewal. Plans contain exclusions and limitations. Benefits vary by plan.

ATENCIÓN: Dispone de servicios de asistencia lingüística y otras ayudas, gratis. Llame al 1-866-305-0408 (TTY: 1-888-867-4132).

请注意：您可以免费获得语言协助服务和其他辅助服务。请致电 1-866-305-0408 (TTY: 1-888-867-4132)。

OTC items are subject to the plan’s list of eligible items and the plan’s participating network of retail, online, and utility providers.

Last update July 14, 2026 @ 12:20 pm

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