Walgreens accepts digital pharmacy benefits

Walgreens is making a select assortment of health and wellbeing products available online to Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits holders.

The drugstore giant, which has accepted Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits in stores since 2019, is now accepting them as payment for approximately 1,700 over-the-counter (OTC) items from its Shop Eligible Products catalog via its e-commerce site and mobile app.

How Medicare Advantage customers can use their benefits digitally at Walgreens 

• Members can browse eligible products as per their plan on Walgreens.com and Walgreens app via the retailer’s dedicated OTC landing page. Members will see a list of eligible items associated with their plan along with common eligible OTC items across multiple plans.
• Members can purchase eligible items by inputting their Medicare Advantage card numbers as their first form of payment. Eligible OTC products will be paid for using their available card funds. Members will need to use another form of payment for items outside of their OTC supplemental benefits.
• Medicare Advantage purchases qualify toward myWalgreens loyalty program members earning and redeeming Walgreens Cash rewards. 
• To finish the transaction, members can choose from several pickup or delivery options, including one-hour and 24-hour same-day delivery, and 30-minute pickup.

Walgreens accepts Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits online from numerous providers. Customers may check eligibility by visiting their Medicare Advantage plan website or calling the number on the back of their Medicare Advantage card.

The retailer says it will continue to enhance capabilities by adding new payer plans for OTC and associated eligible items.

Walgreens increases presence in digital health

Walgreens has been taking steps to establish itself as a provider of digital services for health and wellness products. In November 2023, Walgreens rolled out a new digital tool called Rx Savings Finder, which is designed to find free, third-party discount cards that enable customers to lower prices on their Walgreens medications.

In September 2023, the retailer expanded an existing collaboration with prescription drug savings platform GoodRx to reduce prices on nearly 200 prescription medications by an average of 40%, with higher savings available for select medications.

One of Walgreens’ competitors in the health and wellness space, Kroger, recently partnered with health tech startup Soda Health Inc. to launch its new Smart Benefits program. 

Smart Benefits allows participating Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and employer benefits program recipients to receive certain pharmacy, nutrition services and other eligible benefits at Kroger banner pharmacies, in addition to purchasing eligible food and over-the-counter health items.

“As a health and wellbeing destination for everyone, Walgreens is always looking for ways to enhance the customer experience with solutions for every shopper,” said Tracey D. Brown, executive VP, president, Walgreens Retail and chief customer officer. “Accepting Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits online and on the Walgreens app improves shopping solutions for those who are homebound, have limited mobility or are simply short on time.”

Walgreens is included in the U.S. retail pharmacy and U.S. healthcare segments of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., and operates nearly 9,000 retail locations across America, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.