See how UCard can bring simplicity to the Medicare experience

“It was terrifying,” Renata said.

But she soon found hope and support thanks in part to her Dual Special Needs plan (or D-SNP) from UnitedHealthcare — a Medicare Advantage plan for people who also have Medicaid. With the benefits of her D-SNP, she found herself with access to healthy food, healthcare services and a greater overall sense of well-being. This includes access to care for her MS and a primary care provider that fits her needs.

At the heart of that experience — and what helps connect all the pieces — is the UnitedHealthcare UCard®.

Depending on the plan and member eligibility, the UnitedHealthcare UCard® can be used for numerous components of a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan, including:

• Buying over-the-counter (OTC) health and wellness products
• Buying healthy food
• Earning rewards for healthy behaviors, such as getting a flu shot or achieving activity goals

“I scanned my UCard at the grocery store and (the cashier) and I both look at each other like, ‘Can you believe my insurance is doing this for me?’” Renata said.

In most cases, after someone enrolls in their UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan, a member receives a UCard. The UCard can be used for thousands of eligible OTC items, and members can shop at more than 70,000 national retail locations or online.

This includes the ability to shop at thousands of participating stores, including Walmart, Walgreens, Dollar General, Target or at neighborhood stores near you — with opportunities for home shipping, as well. A product scanner available on the UnitedHealthcare app shows real-time confirmation of covered products, and members swipe their physical UCard or scan the digital barcode available in the app for payment.​

“It’s really comforting to know (the UCard is) there and that it’s so versatile,” Renata said. “If I’m short on my electric bill; if I need help with nutrition — it helps with so much.”

UCard helps provide a simpler and smoother experience for using benefits and programs, making it easier to take advantage of what a plan has to offer. If there are benefit credits, they are loaded onto the UCard monthly or quarterly. What’s more, an enhanced UCard Hub on the member site and app gives members real-time access to available balances, a store locator and more.

In 2026 alone, more than 7.4 million members have used their UCard, racking up more than 76.7 million transactions across healthy food and OTC purchases, utility payments and other services — all totaling more than $3.3 billion spent in direct support of members’ needs.¹

Renata said UCard has proven to be the foundation of a different kind of healthcare experience – one that allows her to focus on things that are important to her, like riding her bike and being there to support others through a similar journey.

“Maybe there’s someone who is just getting diagnosed like me — I want them to know it (can) get better,” she said. “My mood is better, my outlook is better; depression, anxiety, fear — it’s all better. MS isn’t going anywhere, but neither is this card. That’s so comforting.”

For more information about UCard and UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans available in your area, visit UHCMedicareHealthPlans.com.