UNITED HEALTHCARE the UCARD for Groceries, etc

[Lottoguy]

My wife and I are enrolled with United Healthcare The Villages. Part of our benefit is we each get $215.00 a quarter to use at Walgreens, Publix, WinnDixie and Walmart.
With this card we can buy groceries that are considered healthy products. Which means no alcohol, sweets, etc.
The problem is at the register (Publix) after we shop for our items we are told there is no credit on the card. Even though we know we have more then enough to purchase the items.
Has anyone else have this problem and if so how did you correct it? We have activated the card on their web site so that is not the problem.

[Keefelane66]

Call United Healthcare The Villages.

[JohnN]

We only use it for Wal-Mart online orders specifically because of things like that - and we have no problem.
Good luck contacting United Healthcare, sometimes they come up heads, sometimes tails, you never know.

[Happydaz]

The UHC card I believe is for healthcare related “Over The Counter” (OTC) products only. They have a catalog you can order from or you can shop in CVS, Walgreens, etc., for approved OTC products. I believe The Villages plan does not include groceries.

[shut the front door]

$215 each? Wow! My spouse only gets $40!

[Arlington2]

The UCard has 2 parts: 1) the $215 quaterly OTC and 2) reward points for up to $135 annualy for various activities and medical visits and flu shots. The OTC can only be used for non-food items, but the reward points can be used for eligibe food purchases. You need to go to the UHC site to register for the reward points.

[MX rider]

Make sure your card is activated. My wife used hers at Walgreens with no issue. Only certain otc products qualify.

[coralway]

Up North, I use it at Shop Rite for regular grocery shopping, if you go to the UHC website and enter your zip code, an area map will show you which stores will accept your card.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I have Florida Blue and we get Better You Strides credit. It can be used at those supermarkets, but not for food. Only for OTC and medical supplies like bandaids, first aid cream, prescriptions at the store pharmacy, rubbing alcohol, etc.

[Lottoguy]

They only have a virtual assistant. Who told me my card is active.

[Lottoguy]

It's been hit and miss at Walgreens. Sometimes they take it and other times they tell me no credit found on card. But, I know I have money on the card. You can use if for various items that are at Public and Walmart groceries.

[Lottoguy]

I went through all the steps on the Walmart online store. When I went to put in my order for my Ucard they would not take it. They need to scan the bar code in the store. Online they DO NOT have that feature. Or am I missing something online that you know something about? Thanks in advance.

[Arlington2]

I went through all the steps on the Walmart online store. When I went to put in my order for my Ucard they would not take it. They need to scan the bar code in the store. Online they DO NOT have that feature. Or am I missing something online that you know something about? Thanks in advance.
For Walmart online you need to enter the number as payment by gift card. I have found only rewards funds are accepted online - no OTC.

[PugMom]

My wife and I are enrolled with United Healthcare The Villages. Part of our benefit is we each get $215.00 a quarter to use at Walgreens, Publix, WinnDixie and Walmart.
With this card we can buy groceries that are considered healthy products. Which means no alcohol, sweets, etc.
The problem is at the register (Publix) after we shop for our items we are told there is no credit on the card. Even though we know we have more then enough to purchase the items.
Has anyone else have this problem and if so how did you correct it? We have activated the card on their web site so that is not the problem.

you need to order it from the United website itself. i made the same mistake, but i didnt see any food options available, just sport drinks & basic medical supplies

[PugMom]

$215 each? Wow! My spouse only gets $40!

yeah, same here, each quarter

[JohnN]

I went through all the steps on the Walmart online store. When I went to put in my order for my Ucard they would not take it. They need to scan the bar code in the store. Online they DO NOT have that feature. Or am I missing something online that you know something about? Thanks in advance.

You're missing something. I don't know if it works putting in the card at checkout. Try pre-loading it into your profile, that worked for me.

[Babubhat]

At Walmart, bring your qualifying items to the pharmacy register. Scan UHC bar code. It’s that simple

[JohnN]

For Walmart online you need to enter the number as payment by gift card. I have found only rewards funds are accepted online - no OTC.


Correct, not OTC, only rewards which is part of the U-Card.
OTC, just easier to use the UHC website for Amazon.

[Lottoguy]

I'm sure they don't want my bringing up grocery items to the pharamcy counter. But, it might work for a couple of items as a test.

[Blueblaze]

My wife and I are enrolled with United Healthcare The Villages. Part of our benefit is we each get $215.00 a quarter to use at Walgreens, Publix, WinnDixie and Walmart.
With this card we can buy groceries that are considered healthy products. Which means no alcohol, sweets, etc.
The problem is at the register (Publix) after we shop for our items we are told there is no credit on the card. Even though we know we have more then enough to purchase the items.
Has anyone else have this problem and if so how did you correct it? We have activated the card on their web site so that is not the problem.

I can buy my own groceries. I wish they'd just give me a network of doctors with American degrees that I can see without making an appointment a year in advance. Silly me, I think that the person in charge of my healthcare (during the years that I am most at risk of developing a deadly health problem!) should be someone who graduated medical school -- not some nurse with a special "practitioner" title.

[Lottoguy]

OK you've vented now back to my problem....

[Arlington2]

Correct, not OTC, only rewards which is part of the U-Card.
OTC, just easier to use the UHC website for Amazon.

I agree using UHC online is easier. However, their product line is much smaller than Walmart and Walgeens and they are frequently (usually?) out of stock on higher demand items. Personally, I do a mix.

[Keefelane66]

I’ve retired from 2 companies both set up Healthcare savings accounts reaching 65,at one deposited $25,000 the other annually $2700 for myself and $1700 for spouse. Can only be used for medical expenses, health clubs and supplemental insurance. Being creative you can even get Medicare fee from Soc Sec reimbursed considered insurance

[Lottoguy]

I made contact with customer service (a real live person) and they are going to send us new cards. I hope this does the trick!

[Blueblaze]

OK you've vented now back to my problem....

OK, I should have been more direct.

IT'S A GIMMICK!

Yes, you can buy some junk you would never spend $250 on every three months, if you do it on-line at Optum. But its not a real debit card. It's just a dumb way for an insurance company to promise you something you don't need, in order to distract you from the things they aren't giving you that you do need.

It's a fraud, and there was a time when such deceptive marketing was illegal. But in defense of United, they were the last ones to get into the game. At some point even honest players are forced to become frauds when the market is so gullible.

[Rainger99]

The prices in the catalog almost always used to be cheaper than buying them at the store. However, that is not always the case anymore.

Be sure to compare prices.

Equate 70% Isopropyl Alcohol Antiseptic, 32 fl oz is $2.98 at Walmart.

Amazon Basics 70% Ethyl Rubbing Alcohol First Aid Antiseptic, Unscented, 16fl oz is $8.54 plus $.60 tax when you order from the UHC catalog.

The catalog is about three times as expensive as going to the store.

But Band-Aid Brand Flexible Fabric Adhesive Bandages, Assorted, 2 x 100 ct are $23.77 at Walmart (when you order from AmericaRx Smart Shop) but only $17.54 at the UHC website.

However, if you order the two pack directly from Walmart, the price is $16.96.

[Rainger99]

IT'S A GIMMICK!

Yes, you can buy some junk you would never spend $250 on every three months, if you do it on-line at Optum.

I get toothpaste, dental floss, aspirin, advil, bandaids, and a variety of other products.

I don’t consider it to be a gimmick.

[Lottoguy]

I called and they are going to send me new cards. Hope this helps my problem.

[Lottoguy]

According to the card I can buy various healthy items and household goods with it. I have managed to buy a few things with it but most of the time they tell me NO FUNDS FOUND.

[MsPCGenius]

The $250 is a free benefit. You are not paying any premiums for the UHC Advantage program. You can boost the card amount by doing routine maintenance on your health (i.e., get a flu shot, self-recorded exercise x10 on a monthly basis, etc.)

Why are you complaining? Use it or don't use it.....

[Blueblaze]

I get toothpaste, dental floss, aspirin, advil, bandaids, and a variety of other products.

I don’t consider it to be a gimmick.

I see. So you chose your health insurance based on a promise to give you $250 in groceries every three months. And yet, when they actually deliver about $20 worth of toothpaste, aspirin, and bandaids, you don't consider that a "gimmick".

If anybody ever wonders why you can't see your Guadalajara-trained "doctor" without a year's advance notice, there's your answer. We don't care if we get the old-age healthcare we spent 50 years paying for -- just so long as we can have free bandaids!

[DARFAP]

My wife and I are enrolled with United Healthcare The Villages. Part of our benefit is we each get $215.00 a quarter to use at Walgreens, Publix, WinnDixie and Walmart.
With this card we can buy groceries that are considered healthy products. Which means no alcohol, sweets, etc.
The problem is at the register (Publix) after we shop for our items we are told there is no credit on the card. Even though we know we have more then enough to purchase the items.
Has anyone else have this problem and if so how did you correct it? We have activated the card on their web site so that is not the problem.
Use the U Card scanner in the app. It tells you if an item is eligible for purchase with either your OTC $$ or rewards $$ or both. It's very convenient. PS You can buy sweets like MMs etc. It's all healthy!!