My Medicare Advantage plan just added grocery benefit of $60 per quarter

[slackmax]

My Medicare Advantage health insurance plan just added grocery benefit of $60 per quarter (3 months).

I remember seeing a blurb from them about 'qualifying' for these benefits, but I did not inquire. Never applied for them.

But as of some time in Feb, 2023, I now have grocery benefits.  I was calling about something else, and they told me I had the new bens.

Is it typical for the grocery bens to just appear without requesting them?  Or is there some glitch in the software that got me in? 

I did get a letter about an addendum to my benefits in Feb, 2023, having to do with The Inflation Reduction Act, but no mention of grocery benefits, just something about drug coverage.

I am over 65. And they know that. Maybe that's it.   

[coppertop]

I used to have a quarterly benefit for OTC drugstore items in my Medicare Advantage plans.  When I inquired about it this year, I was told that those benefits were eliminated for 2023.  I was really disappointed.  I have Care First in Maryland.

[Cranky]

I have the OTC benefit, and it increased a little this year!

There was a flurry of notices about what benefits were changing at the end of the year, I think.

[slackmax]

I have the OTC benefit, and it increased a little this year!

There was a flurry of notices about what benefits were changing at the end of the year, I think.

Update ! 

I tried using the grocery benefit for the second quarter, and it was denied. I called up the 800 number on the card and they said they were 'looking into it'. No time frame for resolving the problem.

The website for my health insurance Capital Blue Cross says they are aware of the problem with the OTC vendor, and to please be patient.