No, traditional Medicare doesn’t offer flex cards

Leading up to and during the open enrollment period for Medicare each year, usually between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, seniors are bombarded with online ads promoting benefits offered by private plans.

For the past few years, many of these ads have been about “Medicare Flex Cards,” such as this Facebook ad. Ivette emailed us to ask if advertisements about flex cards are real.

THE QUESTION

Does traditional, government-run Medicare offer flex cards?

THE SOURCES

• National Council on Aging
• Oak St. Health
• AARP
• Medicare Advantage providers Anthem and Humana

THE ANSWER

No, traditional, government-run Medicare does not offer flex cards. Some Medicare Advantage plans, which are private insurance alternatives to government-run Medicare plans, offer flex cards, usually to only a portion of coverees.

WHAT WE FOUND

Medicare is available for people age 65 or older, and to younger people with disabilities, End Stage Renal Disease and/or ALS. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurers and are different from original Medicare, which is run by the federal government.

There are many different Medicare Advantage plans that offer many different kinds of benefits based on cost and a person’s needs. These plans require beneficiaries to pay an additional premium. Whether the government’s traditional Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan is more cost-effective for a person depends on their needs and the individual details.

One benefit offered in some Medicare Advantage plans is a flex card, which is like a prepaid debit card designed to help pay for out-of-pocket health related costs and some everyday expenses meant to improve the enrollee’s well-being, the AARP and the National Council on Aging say. Insurers may load a flex card with money monthly, every three months or annually depending on the specific plan.

In most cases, flex cards will cover expenses related to dental, vision and hearing, according to Oak St. Health, a healthcare provider for older adults. In many cases, they’ll also cover over-the-counter medical supplies, such as bandages and hygiene products. Flex cards on some plans may also cover certain medications, groceries, medical transportation, mental health expenses and fitness expenses.

Flex cards usually won’t cover rent, processed or prepared foods, entertainment or most non-health-related expenses, Oak St. Health says. The major exception here is utilities and fuel from gas stations, which some flex card plans may cover.

Not all Medicare Advantage insurance providers offer flex cards. Even among those that do, flex cards may only be offered to people living in certain states or people with certain chronic health conditions, according to the National Council on Aging.

For example, both Anthem and Humana promote their cards with disclaimers saying that the benefits may be available through plans offered to people with chronic illnesses or conditions.

Scammers sometimes offer Medicare enrollees flex cards as an attempt to lure people into giving them personal information or money, according to the AARP.

Flex cards are only available through private Medicare Advantage plans and only to people who qualify for those benefits who are on certain plans. If a person offering a flex card isn’t affiliated with a Medicare Advantage provider, or claims that you can get a card while remaining on government-run traditional Medicare, they are most likely attempting to scam you.

Scammers may target people through false ads with big promises or by calling victims directly. They may steal your identity, take your money or switch you to a Medicare Advantage plan without your knowledge.