If you feel like you’ve been paying more money for less food lately, you’re not alone. Recent inflation and supply chain pressures have pushed up the prices of many items at supermarkets nationwide. 

These increases can be difficult for anyone to manage, but the rising cost of food can be especially challenging for seniors on fixed incomes. However, the Medicare grocery allowance – a benefit that may help offset some of the costs of healthy foods for seniors – can help. 

Original Medicare (parts A and B) does not offer any grocery allowances, but some of the Medicare Advantage plans do. 

Specifically,  Special Needs Plans (SNPs), a type of Medicare Advantage plan available to individuals who meet specific financial and health eligibility guidelines.  

For seniors struggling to make ends meet, the concept of a grocery allowance connected to their Medicare benefits is appealing. However, it’s not available with every plan. 

Only certain Medicare Advantage SNPs may offer a grocery allowance. These plans include: 

  • Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), specifically for beneficiaries who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. These D-SNP plans provide the same Medicare benefits as other Medicare Advantage plans, with the added potential for additional services and benefits. 

Not everyone will qualify for a Medicare grocery allowance, even if they have a Medicare Advantage plan that includes this option. Commercials and telemarketers make it seem like everyone qualifies, but in reality, the grocery allowance is usually only offered to those enrolled in SNPs. 

If you’re unsure about your eligibility or the best plan for you, it’s advisable to seek guidance from a local licensed Medicare agent. The Maryland State Health Insurance Program SHIP offers free, unbiased advice to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries, their families and care givers. You can reach the Montgonery County SHIP office at 301-255-4250. They can help you navigate the options and choose the best Medicare coverage for your needs. Now is the perfect time to review your Medicare plans during the Medicare Open Enrollment period that started on October 15th and runs through December 7th. 

In most cases, enrollees receive a prepaid grocery card, often referred to as a Medicare food card, and a grocery allowance is typically credited to the card every month. 

If your Medicare Advantage plan offers a grocery allowance, contact the carrier to find out if you’re eligible for the program. You’ll likely need to meet certain requirements, such as having a chronic condition or meeting specific income criteria. Contact your plan’s representative and have them walk you through the process of getting your Medicare grocery card.  

The food allowance card for seniors on Medicare makes it easy to pay for groceries at the store, but don’t confuse it with a Medicare flex card, which some Medicare Advantage plans also offer and are used to pay for certain health care services and products, such as hearing aids, eyeglasses, and over-the-counter medications. The concept of using a Medicare flex card at the store to cover your expenses is similar to the grocery allowance but follows different rules. 

The dollar value of the Medicare grocery allowance varies by plan and typically ranges from $25 to $200 per month. While marketers may exaggerate the value, the benefit may be much more modest. Still, any extra money can make a difference in your ability to afford healthy foods. 

With some plans, the allowance may need to be used within the month. In other words, use it or lose it. Other plans, however, allow members to roll over unused funds from month to month, though usually not from year to year. 

You can use this grocery store allowance for essential and healthy food items, including: 

  • Dairy products 
  • Soup 
  • Meat 
  • Canned foods 
  • Frozen foods 
  • Flour, sugar and other staples 

Because the benefit is intended to support healthy living, there are some items you might find at the grocery store that the allowance won’t cover. Excluded items include: 

  • Alcohol 
  • Tobacco 
  • Desserts 
  • Pet supplies and other nonfood items 

If making ends meet and affording healthy food is a challenge, it might be worth enrolling in a Medicare Advantage SNP that includes a grocery allowance. You may be allowed to use the card at Farmer’s Markets like Lewis Orchard to purchase the very freshest produce. 

However, you’ll need to weigh whether that benefit is worth the insurance premium cost. And research new administration changes to Medicare Advantage offerings which may discontinue the grocery card perk. 

Also, keep in mind that the grocery benefit is not part of original Medicare or most Medicare Advantage plans. If someone offers you a debit card for groceries and you are sure that you wouldn’t qualify for a SNP, it’s probably a scam.