CarePlus health plans offer various benefits to their members, including allowances for healthy food and over-the-counter (OTC) items. These benefits are designed to help members maintain their health and well-being by providing access to essential products and services. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the CarePlus Healthy Food Card benefits, including eligibility, usage, and important considerations.
Checking Eligibility and Benefits
To determine if your CarePlus plan includes the CareEssentials Allowance or Over-the-Counter (OTC) allowance, you should:
- Visit MyCarePlus and navigate to the Benefits and Eligibility section.
- Alternatively, you can contact CarePlus directly for assistance.
Healthy Rewards Card
CarePlus members can earn a $50 gift card from stores like Walmart, Shell, Home Depot, and many more!
Important Note: Your rewards program is changing in 2026. Please be on the lookout for exciting updates about new ways to earn rewards. In accordance with the federal requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), no amounts on the gift cards shall be redeemable for cash and no amount may be applied toward the purchase of any prescription drug under your plan. Rewards (gift cards) must be earned and redeemed in the same plan year.
CarePlus Spending Account Card
In 2025, if you have the CareNeeds Platinum (D-SNP) plan, you will receive a quarterly OTC allowance loaded onto the CarePlus Spending Account Card.
Read also: Healthy food access with Highmark Wholecare explained.
You can use this quarterly OTC allowance to buy your choice of approved OTC products. Unused amounts will roll over to the next quarter and expire at the end of the plan year on Dec. 31. Visit the HealthyBenefitsPlus+ webpage and use the StoreFinder to find local participating stores. Your OTC allowance will be loaded onto the spending account card each quarter.
Using Your Healthy Benefits Card
The Healthy Rewards card is a pre-paid MasterCard that can be used to purchase eligible items at participating retail locations.
- Activation: You MUST ACTIVATE YOUR CARD BEFORE USE. Please visit SeniorCarePlus.NationsBenefits.com or call 877-200-4189 (TTY: 711) to activate your card. Member Experience Advisors are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year
- Purchasing Options: Use your earned reward dollars to order health and wellness items through NationsOTC® with two-day delivery. Visit SeniorCarePlus.NationsBenefits.com or call 877-200-4189 (TTY: 711).
- Restrictions: The card may not be used to buy alcohol, tobacco, firearms or other restricted items.
How to Use the Card
- Your card is not a credit card but may be entered as “credit” to checkout.
- If prompted, your PIN is the last 4-digits of your card number.
Important Considerations
- Usage Restrictions: Usage restrictions apply to the card. See cardholder terms for details.
- Product Availability: Products may not be available at every location.
- Sales Tax: While shopping at participating retailers, you may pay sales tax on items just as you would normally. Applicable sales tax will be added to the total at checkout according to your state tax regulations.
- Transaction Fees: Any fees associated with transactions may be deducted from the available balance.
- Combining Allowances: Allowance amounts cannot be combined with other benefit allowances.
- Address Verification: The documented home address with your health plan must match the service address where you currently reside.
- Late Payments: CarePlus is not responsible for any fees or loss of service associated with late payments. Service fees may apply. Bill payment is not available for all utility and rental companies.
- Card Security: Do not throw away your card. Please store it in a safe place, like your wallet. CarePlus is not responsible for funds lost due to lost or stolen cards.
Accessing Your Benefit Balance and Support
- Online: Visit HealthyBenefitsPlus.com/CarePlus
- Phone: Call 1-855-391-0942 (TTY 711)
Redeeming the Card
This card is redeemable for specific goods and services at select merchants.
Flexibility and Choice
You have the freedom to spend your allowance on plan approved products at participating stores. Use the HealthyBenefits+ app on the App Store® or Google Play® to find approved stores and scan products to see if they are eligible. If the service provider does not accept Visa®, you can pay via HealthyBenefitsPlus.com/CarePlus or you can call 855-391-0942 (TTY: 711), anytime. Have your bill ready.
Additional CarePlus Benefits
Beyond the Healthy Food Card, CarePlus offers a range of benefits to support your health and well-being:
Read also: Healthy Eating on the Run
- No Monthly Premiums or Deductibles: With SFHP Care Plus, there are no monthly premiums or deductibles.
- Understanding Your Coverage: As a member, our team will help you fully understand your coverage and make sure you get the most out of your plan.
- Provider Network: Use our Provider Directory to see which doctors and specialists are in the SFHP Care Plus network.
- Dental Services: Dental services are available through Liberty Dental and Medi-Cal Dental 1(888) 704-9838 (TTY 711) or visit libertydentalplan.com.
- Eye Care: Eye care is available through VSP Vision Care providers in the “Advantage” Network.
- Hearing Care: Hearing care is available through local partners: North East Medical Services (NEMS), University of the Pacific Audiology and Hearing and Low Vision Solutions.
- Acupuncture and Chiropractic Care: Acupuncture and chiropractic care are available through our partnership with American Specialty Health (ASH).
- Transportation: This program also covers 24 one-way trips to non-medical locations.
- SSBCI Benefits: The SSBCI benefits are part of an additional program for the chronically ill.
- Wellness Visit: Our plan covers a yearly wellness visit to improve your care plan to help prevent illness.
- Preventive Services: We offer all preventive services covered by Medi-Cal or Medicare Parts A and B, such as flu shots and cancer screenings. Prior authorization rules may apply.
- Inpatient Hospital Stay: Our plan covers 90 days for an inpatient hospital stay.
- Drug List: Our plan has a list of covered drugs called the “drug list” for short. It tells you which prescription drugs our plan covers. These include drugs that your provider orders for you and that you get from a pharmacy.
- Network Providers: *Most services will be provided by our network providers. Prior authorization rules may apply.
- Durable Medical Equipment (DME): We cover all medically necessary DME that is typically covered by Medicare and Medi-Cal. Prior authorization is not required for dialysis services received in network.
Important Dates and Updates
This page will be updated on Jan. 1 with benefit details for 2026. You may review your Annual Notice of Changes (ANOC) for upcoming changes.
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