How to Use Your Benefit Mastercard Prepaid Card in 2026
Over-the-Counter (OTC)
Every month, L.A. Care Medicare Plus members receive a $110 allowance preloaded onto their Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card for their over-the-counter benefit. This allowance can be used to buy Over-the Counter (OTC) health items like vitamins, sunscreen, pain relievers, bandages, and cough and cold medicine.
Please note that unused funds will not carry over to the next month. Please check your Member Handbook for additional details.
Who Can Qualify for Healthy Food, Utilities and Gas at the Pump Purchases in 2026?
Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) is for members with serious health conditions who need extra support in daily life. It helps you for things that keep you healthy and independent. If you qualify for SSBCI you can use the same $110 OTC dollars to help pay for healthy foods, utilities, gas at the pump and OTC items.
To qualify, you must meet all of the following:
- You have one or more long-term health conditions that make it hard to do everyday things like cooking, walking, or managing your medications.
- You are at high risk of going to the hospital or having serious health problems if your condition isn’t managed well.
- You need extra help coordinating your care, which means you may see many doctors, take several medications, or need support from caregivers or health programs.
Some health conditions that may qualify include:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease or heart failure
- Cancer
- Lung problems
- Kidney disease
- Stroke
- Dementia or memory loss
- Mental health conditions
- HIV/AIDS
- Obesity and more
Please check your Member Handbook for a full list of qualifying conditions and additional details.
Examples of What Members Can Buy Using Their Benefits Prepaid Card
Who Can Use the Card to Buy Items? | Things You Can Buy | Not Covered Items or Purchases | |
|---|---|---|---|
Over-the-Counter (OTC) | All Members |
|
|
Healthy Foods | Only members that qualify for SSBCI |
|
|
Utilities | Only members that qualify for SSBCI |
|
|
Gas at the Pumps | Only members that qualify for SSBCI | Pay for gas directly at the pump | Purchases inside gas station convenience stores are not covered |
Additional categories not approved for purchases include but not limited to are clothing, baby care, beauty products, hair care, personal hygiene, household cleaning products, firearms and pet products.
Getting Started
The Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card and activation instructions will be mailed to members, along with an OTC catalog or an OTC Product and Grocery catalog. Members will receive their Mastercard® Prepaid Card, activation instructions, and catalog within 10 – 12 business days after confirmation of enrollment.
Top Participating Retail Locations
Major Retailers | Local Ethnic and Specialty Supermarkets |
|---|---|
Albertsons | H Mart |
Visit the L.A. Care Nation's Benefit web page for a full list.
Your choice of four ways to shop:
In-Store
Members can shop at participating pharmacies and retailers like Albertsons, CVS, Food-4-Less, Ralphs, Walgreens, Walmart, and more. You can visit lacare.nationsbenefits.com to find a store nearby or view a list of retailers in the L.A. County area.
Online
Members can browse and order approved products at lacare.nationsbenefits.com. First-time users need to register on the Benefits Pro Portal or app. Returning users can log in, select items, and checkout.
By Phone
Members can review the catalog or visit lacare.nationsbenefits.com to choose their products. They can place orders by calling 1-833-571-7587 (TTY: 711). Member Service Representatives are available 24/7, including holidays.
Order Through the App
Members can download the Benefits Pro app on their mobile phone, and view account balance and transactions. They can also check if a product is approved while they are shopping in-store. Download the free app in the App Store® or Google Play™.
Catalogs
2026 Catalogs Coming Soon
L.A. Care Medicare Plus 2025 Catalog English
L.A. Care Medicare Plus 2025 Catalog Spanish
L.A. Care Medicare Plus 2025 Catalog Chinese
Didn’t Receive Your Kit or Need a Replacement Card?
Members can call NationsBenefits® at 1-833-571-7587 (TTY: 711). Representatives are available from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. local time to assist with any questions about this benefit.
Store Finder
To find a store visit lacare.nationsbenefits.com, and don't forget to check the Member Handbook for more details.
About the Benefits Prepaid Card Allowance
Medicare approved L.A. Care Medicare Plus to provide these benefits as part of the Value-Based Insurance Design program. This program lets Medicare try new ways to improve Medicare Advantage plans.
The monthly allowance offers flexibility in choosing how to spend on Grocery, Utilities Assistance, Automotive Gasoline, and Over-the-Counter (OTC) items.
Please note that any unused funds do not roll over to the next month.
Important information about your allowance
- All products purchased are subject to the retailers’ return/exchange policies.
- Retail location stores include Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and other participating retailers.
- Online ordering is available only through LACare.NationsBenefits.com
- Only approved products are covered. You are responsible for paying the amount of any purchases over the value on your card, and any non-approved items.
- Only the member who was issued the card can use it to make purchases.
- If your card is lost or stolen, request a replacement card online at LACare.NationsBenefits.com or call 1-833-571-7587 (TTY: 711).
- If your phone order is lost or stolen call NationsBenefit at 1-833-571-7587 (TTY: 711) with your order number.
- You can begin submitting orders once your coverage starts.
- Over-the-counter benefits are administered by Nations Benefit. All brands listed are trademarked by their respective manufacturers. Brands and item eligibility are subject to change.
- L.A. Care Medicare Plus (HMO D-SNP) is a health plan that contracts with both Medicare and Medi-Cal to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees.
- This plan offers Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) to eligible members. These benefits are in addition to standard coverage and are based on specific health conditions. To qualify for SSBCI, members must have one or more chronic conditions that meet eligibility criteria. Some examples include, Cardiovascular Disorders, Diabetes, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Chronic and Disabling Mental Health Conditions, COPD, and other chronic conditions listed in the Member Handbook. Eligible members must also have serious long-term health issues that impact daily life, be at high risk for hospitalization or other major health problems and require significant assistance to manage their care. Responses from your Health Risk Assessment (HRA) and your medical records are used to help determine if you qualify. [You can also ask your doctor to submit a request to L.A. Care that verifies your qualifying medical condition(s) and other eligibility criteria for SSBCI.] Please remember that the SSBCI benefit and your qualifications (when approved) ends at the end of the benefit year. Not everyone will qualify.