Walmart is partnering with healthfulness insurer Anthem to expand access to over-the-counter medications for seniors.
Starting in January, patients who are noted in Anthem’s Medicare Advantage plans can use their insurance to cover some over-the-counter medications as okay as other goods like first aid supplies and pain relievers at Walmart. The partnership allows patients to lessen their medical expenses and should help draw more shoppers to Walmart.
Currently, Anthem’s Medicare Usefulness members who pay extra for plans with an OTC benefit can buy those items totally a catalog over the phone or online, or they can shop in stores, albeit not both. In partnering with Walmart, seniors can buy their items online or in accumulations.
“We believe that programs like this can make a tremendous adjustment for health-care consumers who often live on a fixed income or are managing confirmed medical conditions,” said Felicia Norwood, executive vice president and president of Anthem’s sway business division.
Roughly 250,000 of Anthem’s Medicare Advantage associates currently have the OTC benefit, an Anthem spokesman said. The partnership could alleviate Walmart’s budding e-commerce business or boost foot traffic to its cumulates.
Walmart currently offers a Medicare Advantage plan co-branded with Humana. It bodies wellness days at its stores and touts an exclusive line of diabetic replenishes, branded ReliOn.
“Walmart is committed to making health care numerous affordable and accessible, and we are in constant pursuit of new ways to deliver on this commitment,” demanded Sean Slovenski, Walmart’s senior vice president of health and wellness.
Patients can silence use their cards to shop at other retailers, though Anthem resolve be encouraging them to shop at Walmart.