Medicare Advantage Flex Card for Seniors

A Medicare Advantage Flex Card is a prepaid debit card you can use to pay for specific health care costs. The amount that comes preloaded on the card — and the services and items you are allowed to spend it on — is determined by your Medicare Advantage provider.

It’s important to note that Medicare Advantage Flex Cards are not affiliated with the government, and these types of payment cards are not an option if you have Original Medicare.

Many people mistakenly assume that Medicare Advantage Flex Cards are like a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Some competitors confuse the two and spread misinformation about flex cards. Understanding how a Medicare Advantage Flex Card works can help you decide if it’s a viable option for you to help cover your health care expenses.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan that offers a Medicare Advantage Flex Card, you’ll likely get the card in the mail along with your plan information and important documents. You’ll use your Medicare Advantage Flex Card just like a debit card. Some cards come preloaded with a certain amount, while others may be linked to a spending account that can be reloaded.

Each Medicare Advantage provider has different spending rules and funding amounts for their flex cards. Generally, you can expect to start out with several hundred dollars preloaded onto the card, and you can only spend those dollars on health care services.

Unfortunately, Medicare Advantage Flex Cards may not be available to everyone, as many plans limit the benefit to only members in certain states. For example, Humana’s Medicare Advantage Flex Card is only available to members of some plans in Florida. With Aetna, the Medicare Advantage Flex Card is only for specific plans in Pennsylvania and Minnesota.

Contact your provider to see if they offer a Medicare Advantage Flex Card in your state. You could be missing out on additional money that can be put toward your out-of-pocket health care costs.

Don’t fall victim to online scams. Flex cards are currently only available for Medicare Advantage plans, not for any other Medicare program. If someone is offering you a flex card with an Original Medicare or Medicaid plan — they are trying to scam you.

If you are having difficulty covering your health care expenses on your own, there are legitimate Medicare resources that can provide assistance.

The government offers an Extra Help Program and Medicare Savings Programs that can provide financial aid if you have limited income or resources. Both programs could potentially save you thousands of dollars a year if you qualify.

Each resource also has options for $0 deductibles and $0 premiums. It’s important to know that there are eligibility requirements to qualify for each program.

You may have seen ads or online posts that boast about a government-issued Medicare Flex Card with a value of $2,880. Don’t be fooled — this is a scam. Original Medicare, which is government affiliated, does not offer flex cards.

And the high dollar amount advertised should also make you suspicious, as most flex cards only have a few hundred dollars preloaded for medical uses. If any company claims that their flex card can be used to pay for groceries or bills, this should also be a red flag.

The best way to avoid any Medicare Flex Card scam is to go directly to your Medicare Advantage provider to find information. Don’t click on any links you see in advertisements or respond to telemarketers about flex cards offers.