Again, Medicare Advantage plans do not typically include the flex card benefit. OPM's Human Resources Solutions organization can help your agency answer this critically important question. Millions of Americans could now be eligible to get their "Flex Card" to spend up to $2,880/year free of charge. Facebook posts advertise a "Medicare Flex Card" that seniors can use to pay for expenses such as groceries. $125 food and $500 medical. . Additionally, Flex card is believed to be issued by Medicare plans, but Medicare does not provide Flex cards to seniors. According to Healthcare.gov, a flex card can be used to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care costs. pets Senior discounts can save you substantial amounts of money 10% to 80% off the normal price of a wide range of goods and services, including restaurant meals, travel and even prescription drugs. Therefore, if the Flex card has a $500 allowance and the Medicare plan offers, let's say, $1000 in dental benefits, your total benefit for the year would be $1500. Senior beneficiaries can use these pre-loaded cards for certain healthcare purchases, including medical equipment and OTC medications. Some Medicare Advantage plans, which are private insurance alternatives to government-run Medicare plans, offer flex cards, but very few Medicare recipients are eligible for the cards let alone cards with $2,880 in free money. While some carriers offer a flex card benefit, it is rare to receive such a large amount. Many of the flex card offers I found were only available for enrollees in specific states. Interested employees can learn more about FSAFEDS by visiting the FSAFEDS website or by calling an FSAFEDS Benefits Counselor at 1-877-FSAFEDS (372-3337). However, to participate in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must be willing to abide by strict networks and higher out-of-pocket costs. Suppose you do not enroll in Original Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period and do not have creditable coverage in place. For example, if the company says you get a $2,000 flex card, ask how much of the money you get upfront. At best, it will be annoying. The Flex Card is a preloaded debit card that is available in a variety of categories for eligible medical care beneficiaries. Part A is hospital coverage. Get affordable hearing aids that dont break the bank. The dependent qualifications and use of the funds depend on which FSA you have (caregivers often have . In order to qualify for a flex card, you must qualify for a health insurance plan with a flexible spending account. Some may offer plans that include flex cards to customers who have been with the company for a certain length of time or may make these cards part of a tiered pricing system that requires customers to purchase plans with higher deductibles or copayments. THE ANSWER. Aetna. Workers who decide to join the union after the Open Season has ended but before their 60-day anniversary of hire are considered new members. What is a seniors flex card? Its offered through private Medicare Advantage plans and only available in specific areas around the country. The advertisements include claims that lead beneficiaries to believe they can receive a flex card with up to $2,880 from Medicare to spend as they choose. You can deposit money onto a Flex Card. Since the free money associated with these cards is enticing, scammers get many people to fall for their tricks. What they dont tell you is that this is basically just a flex card with a new and exciting name. As a senior citizen, you may qualify for assistance programs that can help with health care costs, nutrition, and access to community volunteer activities and employment opportunities, among other benefits. Its also worth noting that theres no set amount for flex cards. So, why does the Center for Medicare & MedicaidMedicaid is a public health insurance program that provides health care coverage to low-income families and individuals in the United States. Social Security Its not just online that you have to be careful, either. This is how the ad and the website appeared at the time of writing: These costs may include: Flex cards are typically offered alongside health insurance plans. This is a marketing . Author: Nicole Smith Created Date: 11/1/2021 2:59:08 PM . In reality, a very small percentage of plans available nationwide offer this benefit. Home / FAQs / Medicare Coverage / What Dental Services Are Covered by Medicare. Thus, these cards are not part of the government-run program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has allowed private insurance companies to offer a new benefit-like-debit card (flex card). 1. Got questions about the flex card for seniors? And youre wondering is it real or is it a scam? Truthfully, Medicare is not distributing flex cards for seniors. Read Article . Wellcare Visa Flex Card? This large of a . Flex cards are not provided by Medicare the government-run program for senior citizens. This post may contain affiliate links. Two cards. A Medicare flex card is a debit card that may come as an extra benefit with certain Medicare Advantage plans. So, how do you avoid these scams? Once the money in the flex card account is spent, the card cannot be used again until it is reloaded by the insurance provider based on their guidelines. Enter your ZIP code to pull plan options available in your area. As a licensed Medicare agent in all 50 states, she is dedicated to educating those eligible for Medicare by providing the necessary resources and tools. Starting in late summer 2021, advertisements started to appear everywhere offering a senior flex card. The General Enrollment Period runs annually from January 1 to March 31. Medicare Part B pays 80 percent of most medically necessary healthcare services. We were unable to find any Flex Cards that actually had the $2,880 that they originally advertised. Youre not alone! There might be other supplemental benefits included as well in specific Plans such as a benefit for groceries, utilities, and over the counter medications. For a total of $1,600 per year, the most extensive valid flex plan identified featured a $1,000 flex card and a $50 monthly debit card for other out-of-pocket expenses. . Our popular Dental Plan includes Vision and Hearing options. SSI Redetermination: What It Is and How It Can Affect Your Benefits . She has over 20 years of professional research and writing experience, and she has been solely dedicated to investigating low income topics for the last 10 years. Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. However, these advertisements were not very clear on what a flex card actually is. However, this is entirely not true. Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement, American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance, How To Promote Mental Wellness in Old Age, How To Be a Snowbird Without Breaking the Bank, What To Do if Your Savings Arent on Track for Retirement, Crucial Tips for Downsizing Your Budget During Retirement, How To Reduce Senior Medical Debt in America, Medicare Advantage Vs Medicare Supplement, Medicare Supplement Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions, Other medically necessary expenses check your plan details for a complete list. Our new $1.5 million direct cash transfer pilot program, Strong Families, Strong Future DC will provide $900 per month for one year to 132 new and expectant mothers in Wards 5, 7, and 8. . Flex cards aren't the only extra benefit offered by Medicare Advantage plans. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), What to Do If Youre a Victim of Medicare Fraud. In Network and Out of Network choices! They are offered by some private insurance companies through Medicare Advantage plans. Consider a company offering $2,000 flex cards. Seniors expect to have to provide sensitive personal information, like their name, Social Security Number, Medicare information and even bank information during this process, so its even easier than usual for scammers to get this information. Money on the card can be used to pay for specific health services, such as dental or vision care, prescriptions, or even healthy groceries. The flex card benefit is not a common feature of Medicare Advantage plans, but you can find it in a handful of plans nationwide. state parks They are non-taxed accounts that are used to pay for certain medical expenses not covered by employer plans. However, it isnt difficult to see how private insurance companies can use them in a slimy way to promote free money and free Flex Cards. So, to qualify, you must have a participating policy. These scammers often claim to be calling from Medicare and will lie and cheat to try to get your older adults current Social Security number-based Medicare number. Part B is medical coverage.. Flex Cards are for medical bills that meet certain criteria. Nicole is the owner and lead researcher for Low Income Relief. It covers doctor visits, preventative care, tests, durable medical equipment, and supplies. Humana Honor, a Medicare Advantage plan in its third year and designed with U.S. military veterans in mind, will be available in 47 states, up from 46 in 2021. 1-877-372-3337. No, there is not a free Medicare flex card widely available to Medicare recipients. The name flex card harkens to what some of us know as a flexible spending account that reimburses for medical expenses. Often, the so-called advisor will pressure you to act quickly. Flex card offers that claim to give you free money are also a red flag because, put simply, they arent giving you free money. Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Not everyone in a Medicare Advantage plan will qualify for a flex card. Often, Medicare Advantage plans have high maximum out-of-pocket costs. If you dont read the fine print carefully, you may end up paying the price in other areas of your plan. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Im not saying its the government doing this. This means that a Medicare Advantage plan might have a flex card benefit in Georgia and North Carolina, but it may not be available in Texas.If youre interested in finding out whether there are plans that offer flex cards in your area, to see if there are any available. How can you protect yourself from scammers and bad actors? Beneficiaries often save more money in total health spending with a Medicare Supplement plan than with a Medicare Advantage plan. The advertisements include claims that lead beneficiaries to believe they can receive a flex card with up to $2,880 from Medicare to spend as they choose. So heres the deal, every year right around the annual open enrollment period which runs from Oct 15th to Dec 7th, theres always a certain benefit thats heavily advertised by medicare sales agencies. Companies offer additional benefits to make the policies more attractive to consumers by balancing these high costs. To qualify for a flex card, you must have health insurance that offers a flexible spending account. The . Flex cards are tied to health insurance, and these flex card for seniors are actually a health insurance marketing tactic designed to lure seniors into switching to specific Medicare Advantage plans. Home / Blog / Medicare News / Does Medicare Have a Flex Card for Seniors? The scam consists of a recorded message advising callers that if they are sixty years of age or older they are eligible for the national senior assistance program. Medicare Flex Cards are debit cards offered by private Medicare Advantage providers and insurance companies. This year that benefit happens to be the Flex card for seniors. As a senior who has qualified for Medicare, you must choose a Medical . 2022 GovernmentDigest.net | Contact us: contact@governmentdigest.net. Common health services covered by flex cards include: Keep in mind that because flex cards for seniors on Medicare are provided by private insurers, these companies can decide what their cards cover and what they dont. Further, the ads tend to be unclear about which items are eligible for purchase with flex cards. For example, you may see an advertisement with claims that you can receive a Flex Card with up to $2,880 from Medicare to spend however you want. 2. He does not make any commission on any other plans, so he steers everyone toward United Healthcare even if it isnt in their best interests. Details such as your Doctor visit and facility co-pays, prescription drug costs, and other medical costs. How can you lower the costs of your groceries and still get the nutritious food that will keep you . The money in your FSA can be used on your parents if they qualify as your dependent. Millions of older adults may be missing out on programs to help pay for food, housing, healthcare, and more. EBT This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Serviceapply. To qualify, you generally need to be at least 65 years old and to have lived in the United States for at least five years as a citizen or permanent resident. He is featured in many publications as well as writes regularly for other expert columns regarding Medicare. You can do this online at Healthy Benefits Plus or by calling 855-256-4620 (TTY: 711). That just doesnt make sense for most people. Enrollment Assistance. As a result, its worth asking your prospective provider-specific questions and demanding clear answers in return. Does any of this value roll over to the next year? The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) is designed to provide low-income seniors with access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey and herbs; increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities through farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agricultural programs; and aid in the development of new and . But more often than not, you might find yourself attracted towards a scam that can take all your money. When her husband was medically discharged from the US Army, their family experienced tremendous financial hardship. For example, you might see an offer for a flex card with a $1,000 balance but if the insurance plan tied to the card comes with a $25 per month increase over your current Medicare Advantage premium and doubles your deductible from $500 to $1,000, you could end up paying more each year even with your flex card. Low Income Relief is not a bank or financial institution and we do not provide cash or financial products.Low Income Relief is part of The Lighthouse Information Network LLC, a content creation company owned by Nicole Thelin and based in Utah, USA. There is no enrollment period since not all insurers offer these cards, and those that do may have different rules about the amount of money these cards carry along with the services they cover. Why do so many people try to scam seniors? food It is best to contact your insurer directly to inquire if your plan offers this benefit.