Need to contact or place a phone call to Blue Shield of California: 1-888-628-2770 (TTY: 711)

Contact Line for Current Members: Please first call the number found on the back of your member ID card for accurate and faster service. 

Blue Shield of California is an independent member of the Blue Shield Association, a nonprofit health plan that is committed to offering California residents an access to high-quality health care at an affordable price.  Blue Shield of California began in 1938 as the California Physicians’ Service (CPS) by the California Medical Association House of Delegates on December 18 of that year.  During their first year of operation, 20,000 Californians have subscribed and 5,000 physicians join the pioneer prepaid healthcare service plan.

Blue Shield of California Medicare Advantage offers a $0 plan premium with $0 deductible and up to $5,100 in added benefits:

• Hearing Aid Benefits
  • With up to two (2) hearing aids every year, including batteries
• Preventive Dental Coverage
  • Covered services included but are not limited to cleaning, routine dental exams, and dental x-rays.
• Telehealth
  • Physician consultations by phone or online to diagnose and treat basic medical conditions
• Over-the-Counter 
  • Quarterly allowance for covered items
• And many more!

This is a program that will enable you to acquire over-the-counter items that will arrive at your address in the mail.  The card must be activated and the initial OTC dollar amount will be loaded onto the card.  This benefit will also assist you with the cost of essential health care products that are not within the medical or pharmacy expense under your plan.  To add to this, it can aid you in saving money on a vast array of generic branded health essential products like cold medicines, pain relievers, dental care, first aid supplies, and so much more.

Advantages of using OTC benefit:

If you will use the credit or pre-determined allowance that is provided within this benefit, all products you wish to get will be given to you at no extra cost.  Your orders will also be delivered to your home without worrying about shipping fee as these will all be covered by the benefit.

Blue Shield of California Medicare Advantage works with OTCHS that will allow their members to purchase common everyday medical and personal health care essentials.  Their team of clinicians, researchers, engineers, financial experts, and a great number of direct sales representatives have outstanding expertise and know everything about healthcare business.  

The following are the common medical and personal care items that they offer for their partners:

• Eye and Ear Care
• First aid supplies
• Allergy sprays and gels
• Skin and sun care products
• Cold and flu products
• Dental and Denture Care
• Antacids and Acid Reducers
• Vitamins and Minerals
• And so many more!

These OTC products are all given to members at no extra cost.  A credit or pre-determined allowance is given within the benefit.  Shipping fee will not be charged to the member especially if this is inclusive in your plan.  Find below the easy methods where active members of this program can submit their orders:

• They may scroll down below and go through on how to set up an account online.  This is considered to be the fastest, most convenient, and easiest way to order 24/7.
• They may place their orders by calling (888) 628-2770, TTY: 711

Members must make sure to review the Summary of Benefits of their existing personal plan to verify if their plan has this benefit included in it.  If it does, members must also be aware of the plan’s specified OTC allowance frequency, whether it is provided monthly or quarterly.  The allowance amount may vary depending on the plan.  The number to contact is given at the start of this article if you need further information about your plan benefits.

There are a few plans that are inclusive of an allowance that is provided on a monthly basis.  These credits may be consumed to purchase some over-the-counter medications and supplies, comprising of digestive health treatments, allergy medication, pain relievers, first aid supplies, and so many more.  Members must review the Evidence of Coverage of their plan to check if it is included in their benefit and to find out the exact amount of the monthly allowance provided.

IMPORTANT: Go directly to the site to confirm and acquire more information.

• https://blueshieldcamedicare.com/medicare-plans-california/

NOTE:  The information provided here is not a comprehensive explanation of the benefits available to you.  It is always best to communicate directly with the company to know more information about their available plans.

Easy-to-follow steps are provided below should you feel the need to access the login or registration page.  A brief guide is available for you so you can discover how you can login or activate a new online account and gain access.  Just make sure your personal information is close by.

• Stable internet access
• Email address
• Member information
• Personal information

1. Visit this link in your preferred internet browser on your device. 
2. Select the blue “Log in / Create account” button found on top of the page.  You will be redirected to this link.  
3. Select the blue “Create Account” button found on the right portion of the page.
4. Type in your Member ID in the space provided.  This may be found on your Blue Shield card.  NOTE: Type in just the numeric values of your Blue Shield Member ID.
5. Type in your Date of Birth in the space provided.  You may also choose the calendar option to enter your Date of Birth automatically.
6. Select the blue “Look me up” button to proceed.
7. Continue to move forward and provide all the necessary information until you receive a successful registration confirmation.

An email verification will appear in your inbox once you have registered successfully.  This will give you complete access to your online account and start taking advantage of Blue Shield of California Medicare Advantage OTC pharmacy benefits that is included in your plan.

1. Visit this link in your preferred internet browser on your device. 
2. Select the blue “Log in / Create account” button found on top of the page.  You will be redirected to this link.
3. Type in your Username in the space provided.
4. Type in your current Password in the space provided.
5. Select the blue “Log in” button to move forward.
6. You may now start managing your account online.

• Any and all unused benefits will expire; they will NOT roll over to the next benefit period. Only one order may be placed every quarter.
• There is normally no limit to the number of items you order.  However, there is a restriction per order to nine (9) quantities per any single item, per quarter.  Blood Pressure Monitors, however, have a limit to one (1) per year.  You still have to ensure that the total amount due is still within your allotted benefit amount.
• It is not allowed to order more than the total allotted amount during each benefit period.  If you decide to order select items that cost more than your allowable amount, you will NOT be able to pay the balance with either cash or card.  As an example, if your monthly benefit is $20 and your total orders amounted to $20.95, you will have to remove certain items from your order to bring the value back down to the monthly benefit allotted amount.  
• The items you have ordered will be delivered within 14 business days as soon as you have successfully submitted your order.  
• RETURN POLICY: For damaged items, you may direct your concerns to the OTC company and return the items within 30 days.  The OTC company will replace it with the same item only.  No other returns or exchanges are allowed.

NOTE:

If you wish to download the catalog, please visit the link below:

• 2021 Blue Shield of California Over-the-Counter Item Catalog

• If you have further questions about your plan, it is best to directly contact the following numbers: (510) 607-2000.