The Wellcare Visa Flex Card, now called the Wellcare Spendables card, offers Wellcare Medicare Advantage plan members a practical way to manage health-related expenses.
This pre-loaded debit card provides a monthly or quarterly allowance for various health items and services. As a cardholder, you might wonder where to use your WellCare Visa Flex Card.
Let’s explore the versatility and benefits of WellCare Spendables.
Where can I use my WellCare Visa Flex Card?
You can use your Wellcare Spendables card at participating retailers locally and nationwide. Many major chains and local stores accept the card, giving you flexibility in where you shop for health-related items.
Some of the prominent retailers where you can use your card include:
- Walmart
- Kroger
- CVS
- Walgreens
- Dollar General
- Albertsons Companies
- Publix
To find nearby participating stores, you can use the Store Finder tool.
To start your search, log into your secure member portal, click on Wellcare Spendables, and enter your zip code.
Beyond retail stores, many Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans allow you to use the Spendables card for various healthcare services.
You can often use it to cover out-of-pocket expenses for dental, vision, and hearing services at providers where these are the primary services offered.
Learn more: Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage Plans
This flexibility extends to both in-network and out-of-network providers in many cases.
For some plans, the card’s utility goes even further.
You can use it for essential living expenses such as rent, utilities, or gas at select stations. However, these options vary by plan, so checking your specific plan details is crucial.
Need help to understand your Medicare plan benefits, including the WellCare Visa Flex Card?
What Can I Purchase with the WellCare Visa Flex Card?
The Wellcare Spendables card covers a diverse range of health-related products and services.
Here’s a breakdown of common categories:
- Over-the-counter (OTC) Products: You can purchase various OTC items, including allergy, flu, and cold medication and remedies.
- Healthy Food: Some plans offer a healthy food benefit, allowing you to buy nutritious groceries at participating stores or online.
- Dental Services: Your card can help cover out-of-pocket dentures, fillings, and crowns costs. However, cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening are not eligible.
- Vision Expenses: Use your card for glasses, contact lenses, and solutions.
- Hearing Services: The card can help with hearing aids and associated expenses.
- Living Expenses: Some plans may support rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, and gas for your vehicle at select stations.
Always check your plan materials or log into the member portal to view available categories.
When using your card, remember that it only covers the cost of eligible items up to your available balance. If your purchase exceeds your balance, you must pay the difference using another payment method.
Benefits of using the WellCare Visa Flex Card
The WellCare Visa Flex Card, now the Wellcare Spendables card, offers several advantages that make managing your health-related expenses easier:
- Flexibility: The card lets you shop at a wide range of in-store and online retailers, giving you more control over your healthcare spending.
- Convenience: With the pre-loaded card, you don’t need to submit receipts or wait for reimbursements. You can make purchases directly at the point of sale, streamlining access to benefits.
- Expanded Coverage: The card covers various health-related expenses, from OTC medications to dental services and even living expenses in some plans.
- Cost Savings: The card can significantly reduce personal healthcare costs by covering out-of-pocket expenses for health services and products. This is particularly valuable for items not typically covered by traditional insurance plans.
- Potential Rollover: Many Wellcare Spendables balances roll over, meaning unused funds don’t necessarily expire at the end of the benefit period.
FAQ
Are there any restrictions on the WellCare Visa Flex Card?
Yes, there are some significant restrictions to keep in mind:
- Eligible Items: You can only use the card for items and services determined by your specific plan. Not every store will be eligible, either.
- No Cash Access: You can’t use this card at ATMs or for cash back at registers. It’s strictly for purchasing eligible health-related items and services.
- Personal Use Only: The card is non-transferable and can only be used for personal health needs.
- Cosmetic Procedures: The card typically doesn’t cover cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening in dental care.
- Overspending: If your purchase total exceeds your available balance, you must pay the difference using another payment method.
- Gas Purchases: If your plan includes a gas benefit, you can only use the card at the pump, not inside the gas station.
- No Recurring Payments: You can’t use the card to set up automated, recurring utility payments.
Always check your plan details for specific restrictions, which vary between different Wellcare plans.
How do I check my balance on the WellCare Visa Flex Card?
Checking your WellCare Visa Flex Card balance is straightforward:
- Log in to your secure member portal.
- Click on the “Wellcare Spendables” section.
- Your current balance will be displayed here.
Remember, the amount on your card and when it reloads can vary depending on your specific plan.
Can I use the WellCare Visa Flex Card online?
Yes, you can shop online with your WellCare Visa Flex Card. Use your card like any other payment method during the online checkout process.
However, your card doesn’t cover all products available online. Check this information in your member portal to ensure you’re shopping for covered items from participating retailers.
