Health benefits company Anthem, Inc. and mega-retailer Walmart on Monday announced a plan to reduce healthcare costs and provide senior citizens with increased access to over-the counter (OTC) medicines and services.
The Anthem-Walmart program will enable consumers who are enrolled in Anthem’s affiliated Medicare Advantage plans to use OTC plan allowances to purchase OTC medications and health-related items, such as pain relievers, first aid supplies, and support braces at Walmart’s 4,700 stores and online.
The new collaboration is expected to improve access to the items while significantly reducing the out-of-pocket costs for those enrolled in the Anthem plans.
In addition to providing the medicines at its store locations, Walmart said it plans to offer free two-day shipping via its website on orders of $35 or more without a membership fee.
According to the Social Security Administration, nearly a quarter of married seniors and four out of 10 unmarried older adults rely on their Social Security benefit, which averages just over $1,400 a month, for at least 90 percent of their income.
The collaboration is expected to launch in January 2019.
(Source: Anthem, Inc.)
