The short answer
If you are looking for a Medicaid OTC card, some Medicaid health plans may offer an over the counter (OTC) item allowance as an extra on top of regular coverage, but not every plan offers one. Texas and Kentucky list these benefits plan by plan on their state charts, so check your state's chart, your member handbook, or call your plan.
Many states run Medicaid through managed care health plans. Federal rules let those plans offer services beyond what the state Medicaid plan covers, as long as the plan pays for them itself. (42 CFR 438.3(e)) States call them different names: value-added services in Texas, value added benefits in Kentucky, enhanced services in Indiana, and supplemental services in Massachusetts. The state lists we checked include rewards for checkups, food help, rides to the grocery store or food bank, and, in Texas and Kentucky, over the counter or health and hygiene item benefits for some plans. Each plan picks its own list, so two people with Medicaid in the same state can have different extras.
Your state Medicaid agency decides who gets Medicaid, and your health plan decides its own extras. Benefit Bull is free, always.
Key facts
| Texas | Value-added services. HHSC comparison charts by program and service area |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | Value added benefits. DMS 2026 side by side chart of all five plans |
| Indiana | Educational programs and enhanced services. Indiana Medicaid health plan comparisons |
| Massachusetts | Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) supplemental services. MassHealth list by ACO, calendar year 2026 |
| Minnesota | Not listed on a state page we could confirm. Check with your state Medicaid program |
Are extras part of Medicaid itself?
No. They sit on top of it. Federal rules say a Medicaid managed care plan may cover services "in addition to those covered under the State plan" that it voluntarily agrees to provide, but the cost of those services cannot be counted when the state sets what it pays the plan. (42 CFR 438.3(e)(1)(i)) That is why extras change from plan to plan and from year to year, while your core Medicaid benefits stay the same.
Kentucky's 2026 chart lists each plan's value added benefits side by side and says "All MCO Value-Added Benefits program offerings and services are subject to change." (Kentucky DMS, 2026 MCO Value Added Benefits) Texas says "STAR medical plans provide all Medicaid services" and that each plan "also offers extra services, called value-added services." (Texas HHS, STAR Comparison Charts)
Do extras change whether I get Medicaid?
No. Getting Medicaid and getting a plan's extras are two separate things. The state decides whether you may qualify for Medicaid based on its own rules, such as income and household size. Once you are enrolled and assigned to or pick a health plan, that plan's extras are what come with it. Extras are not a way in, and losing an extra does not end your Medicaid. Many extras also have their own conditions, such as finishing a checkup, being pregnant, or being in a care program, so not every member of a plan gets every extra.
For the rules on getting Medicaid in the first place, see Medicaid income limits.
How do I find the extras my plan offers?
- Find your plan name. It is on your health plan member ID card and on letters from your plan.
- Open your state's comparison page. The state links below list extras by plan. You do not need to log in to anything to read them.
- Read your member handbook. Your plan mails one when you join, and it lists the extras and any conditions.
- Call the member services number on your ID card and ask, "What value-added services or extra benefits do I have this year, and how do I use them?"
You never need to give a Social Security number or a website password to read what a plan offers. If someone asks for your Medicaid portal login to access extras, you can say no and check the state page yourself.
Can I switch plans to get different extras?
Often, yes, at set times. States let members compare plans and change during an enrollment window or for certain reasons. The rules and dates differ by state, so check your state Medicaid program before you switch. Before choosing a plan for its extras, check that your doctors and pharmacy are in its network. In Massachusetts, for example, MassHealth says you can switch health plans for any reason during your annual 90-day Plan Selection Period. (Mass.gov, Accountable Care Partnership Plan)
What extras do plans offer in Texas, Kentucky, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Minnesota?
We list only what an official state Medicaid page says. Dollar amounts for rewards and allowances are set by each plan and change every plan year, so we leave them out. Your plan's current handbook has the exact amounts.
Texas
Texas HHS says value-added services are "extra services included in your health plan, like a 24/7 nurse line or additional help for members with asthma," and that each health plan offers different ones. (Texas HHS, Choosing a Health Plan) HHSC posts comparison charts for STAR, STAR+PLUS, STAR Kids, and CHIP. The STAR charts are split by service area (for example Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Travis, and the rural service areas), so pick the chart for your county. The STAR charts we opened, such as Harris and Travis, include a "Drug Store Services/Over-the-Counter Benefits" row, and what each plan lists there differs. (Texas HHS, STAR Comparison Charts)
Kentucky
Kentucky's Department for Medicaid Services publishes a 2026 side by side chart of value added benefits for its five plans: Aetna Better Health, Humana, Passport by Molina, UnitedHealthcare, and WellCare. Categories on the chart include rewards for health screenings and visits (usable as gift cards at stores such as grocery and pharmacy chains, per the chart), health risk assessment rewards, health tools like blood pressure cuffs and scales, tobacco cessation help, health and hygiene item benefits (one plan lists a yearly allowance for over the counter health and hygiene items), and help connecting to food, housing, and utility resources. (Kentucky DMS, 2026 MCO Value Added Benefits) The chart lists each plan's phone number for details.
Indiana
Indiana Medicaid's health plan comparison page lists "Educational Programs and Enhanced Services" for each plan: Anthem, CareSource, and MHS for Healthy Indiana Plan and Hoosier Healthwise, and Anthem, MHS, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan for Hoosier Care Connect. Examples on the page include community and career resources, pregnancy support, and, for CareSource, enhanced transportation to food banks, food pantries, or the grocery store for food pickup. The same page shows each plan covers prescriptions and some over the counter drugs as a regular pharmacy benefit. (Indiana Medicaid, Health Plan Comparisons) Indiana also posts plan summaries for Healthy Indiana Plan, Hoosier Healthwise, and Hoosier Care Connect. (Indiana Medicaid, Managed Care Health Plans)
Massachusetts
MassHealth lists Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) supplemental services offered by each Accountable Care Organization (ACO) in calendar year 2026. Food related services on the list include medically tailored food boxes, medically tailored food prescriptions and vouchers, medically tailored home delivered meals, nutritionally appropriate food boxes and vouchers, nutrition counseling, nutrition classes, and kitchen supplies. Housing services include healthy homes, housing search, transitional goods, and other help finding housing. Each ACO offers a different set, and MassHealth says to contact your ACO directly to learn more. (Mass.gov, ACO HRSN Supplemental Services by Category)
Minnesota
We could not confirm a Minnesota Department of Human Services page that lists health plan extras as of November 2, 2026. If you have Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare through a health plan, check with your state Medicaid program or call the member services number on your plan ID card and ask what extra benefits your plan offers. See Minnesota Medical Assistance income limits for the base program.
Other states
Check with your state Medicaid program. Many state Medicaid sites have a "choose a health plan" or "compare plans" page.
The bottom line
Medicaid plan extras are optional services a health plan adds on top of regular Medicaid. (42 CFR 438.3(e)) They differ by state and by plan, they do not decide whether you get Medicaid, and you can read the list on your state's Medicaid site or in your member handbook without logging in. Benefit Bull is free, always. Questions about this guide: ben@benefitbull.com.
Sources
Every claim above links to the source it came from.
- 42 CFR 438.3(e), Services that may be covered by an MCO, PIHP, or PAHP (eCFR). Checked November 2, 2026.
- Texas HHS, Choosing a Health Plan. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Texas HHS, STAR Comparison Charts. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services, Managed Care Organization Value Added Benefits (VAB) 2026 (PDF). Checked November 2, 2026.
- Indiana Medicaid, Health Plan Comparisons. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Indiana Medicaid, Managed Care Health Plans. Checked November 2, 2026.
- Mass.gov, ACO HRSN Supplemental Services by Category (last updated January 22, 2026). Checked November 2, 2026.
- Mass.gov, Accountable Care Partnership Plan. Checked November 2, 2026.
