New Over-the-Counter Benefits for the 2020 Plan Year

Members in all Medicare Plus Blue PPO and select BCN Advantage HMO-POS plans will be eligible for an over-the-counter, or OTC, quarterly allowance to spend on items through an authorized vendor.

Over-the-counter items are drugs and health-related products that don’t need a prescription, such as allergy medicine, toothpaste, ibuprofen, bandages and glucose tablets.

OTC catalogs will be mailed to members the week of December 23, 2019. Members will be able to place orders starting January 1, 2020 by phone, online, or mail. The products are not subject to sales tax and shipping is free.

The following plans include an OTC quarterly allowance. Download the catalog for more information about the program and OTC items:

$25 OTC quarterly allowance:

• Medicare Plus Blue PPO Essential, Vitality, Signature or Assure

• BCN Advantage HMO-POS Classic or Prestige

• Catalog: Over-the-Counter Benefit Catalog ($25 allowance)

$15 OTC quarterly allowance:

• BCN Advantage HMO-POS Elements

• Catalog: Over-the-Counter Benefit Catalog ($15 allowance)