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Eligible UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan members receive a monthly or quarterly grocery allowance loaded directly onto their UCard. You can use this allowance to buy approved healthy food items at hundreds of participating retail and grocery locations — no coupons or reimbursement forms needed.

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How the Grocery Allowance Works

Your grocery allowance is pre-loaded to your UCard at the start of each benefit period. When you shop at a participating store, eligible items are automatically deducted from your allowance balance as you check out. If your total purchase exceeds your available balance, you pay the remaining amount out-of-pocket using another form of payment. Items that are not eligible — such as alcohol, tobacco, or prepared foods — will not deduct from your UCard balance. Those items will be charged separately at checkout, so you only spend your benefit dollars on approved healthy foods.

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Participating Stores

Your UCard grocery allowance is accepted at a wide range of retail locations across the country. Availability may vary depending on your specific plan and region.

Grocery & Superstores

Walmart Supercenter, Walmart Neighborhood Market, and other major grocery retailers depending on your plan area.

Drug Stores & Pharmacies

CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid are common participants. Availability varies by plan — confirm your plan’s network before shopping.

Dollar Stores

Dollar General and Family Dollar participate in many plans, making it easy to stretch your grocery benefit further.

Specialty & Regional Chains

Additional regional grocery chains may be included in your plan. Use the store locator at uhc.com for a complete list of locations near you.

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What Foods Are Eligible

Your grocery allowance is designed to support a healthy diet. Eligible items generally include:
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Canned and frozen fruits and vegetables (with no added sugar)
  • Whole grains, bread, and cereal
  • Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt)
  • Eggs
  • Lean proteins (fresh or frozen meats, fish, and beans)
  • 100% fruit or vegetable juices
Non-eligible items: Prepared or hot foods, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins and supplements (those are covered separately by your OTC benefit), and non-food items are generally not covered under the grocery allowance. These items will ring up separately at checkout and will not draw from your UCard balance.

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Checking Your Grocery Balance

Before heading to the store, it’s a good idea to confirm how much you have available on your UCard grocery allowance.
1

Sign in to your account

Sign in at uhc.com or open the UHC app on your mobile device.
2

Navigate to your benefit balances

Go to My UCard or Benefit Balances from your member dashboard.
3

Review your grocery allowance

Your current grocery allowance balance is displayed along with its expiration date so you know exactly how much you have and when it resets.
Check your balance before every shopping trip so you know exactly how much you have available — and make sure to use it before the benefit period ends.

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Frequently Asked Questions

No. Unused grocery allowance typically expires at the end of each benefit period, whether that’s monthly or quarterly. Be sure to use your full balance before it resets — any remaining amount will not carry over to the next period.
Yes. At checkout, let the cashier know you’d like to split the transaction. Your UCard will cover the eligible items up to your available balance, and you can pay the remaining total with another form of payment such as a credit or debit card.
Occasionally, the store’s point-of-sale system may not recognize an item as eligible. If this happens, hold on to your receipt and call the member services number on the back of your UCard to request a manual adjustment.