Does Medicare cover over-the-counter eye drops?

Generally, no. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t pay for eye drops you buy off the shelf, and Medicare’s own handbook describes over-the-counter drugs as something Part D doesn’t cover. The exception is some Medicare Advantage plans, which offer an over-the-counter benefit that varies by plan. Call your plan to find out what yours includes and where you can use it.

Does Medicare cover over-the-counter drugs?

Medicare has several parts, and none of the standard ones is built to pay for products you pick up without a prescription:

• Part A is hospital insurance. The handbook lists certain drugs among the services it covers during an inpatient stay, which is a different thing from products you buy for home.
• Part B is medical insurance. Medicare.gov says it covers a limited set of outpatient drugs, mainly ones a provider gives you, such as most injectable and infused drugs given by a licensed provider.
• Part D is drug coverage offered by private companies approved by Medicare. It helps pay for brand-name and generic prescription drugs on a plan’s drug list.

The official Medicare & You 2027 handbook, published on medicare.gov, mentions over-the-counter drugs in exactly this light: it lists “over-the-counter drugs Part D doesn’t cover” among the extras some Medicare Advantage plans may add.

Does Medicare cover eye drops for dry eyes?

If your eye doctor prescribes a drop, it may fall under your Part D plan, depending on that plan’s drug list and rules. An over-the-counter lubricating drop like Quell is different. It’s sold without a prescription, so Original Medicare and Part D generally won’t pay for it, whether you buy it at a pharmacy counter or online.

For prescription drops, ask your eye doctor and your Part D plan; this guide only covers the over-the-counter side. Our guide to whether you need a prescription for eye drops explains the difference between the two kinds.

Medicare Advantage OTC benefits

Medicare Advantage plans, sometimes called Part C, are offered by private companies that contract with Medicare. They include Part A and Part B and usually Part D, and medicare.gov notes they may offer extra benefits Original Medicare doesn’t. An over-the-counter benefit is one of the extras some of them add.

These benefits vary a great deal. The Medicare & You handbook calls them generally limited and tells readers to check with the plan. Questions worth asking your plan:

• Does my plan include an over-the-counter benefit this year?
• Are lubricating eye drops on the list of eligible items?
• How much is the allowance, and does it reset monthly or quarterly?
• Do unused amounts carry over, or do they expire?
• Where can I use it: specific stores, a mail-order catalog, or any online shop?
• Can I be reimbursed for an eligible item I paid for myself?

The handbook also points Medicare Advantage members to two documents their plan sends each fall: the Annual Notice of Change, which lists changes for the coming year, and the Evidence of Coverage, which details what the plan covers and what you pay.

Can I use a Medicare OTC card to buy Quell?

Quell can’t tell you that, and doesn’t claim to be covered or accepted by any Medicare plan. Checkout is a card payment on the payment processor’s secure page, and there’s no step that bills Medicare or a plan. Whether a plan’s card is accepted depends on the card and the plan’s rules, so ask your plan before you order. If it isn’t accepted, you can pay another way.

Using HSA money after you enroll in Medicare

People who built up a health savings account before Medicare can still use it. IRS Publication 969 says that beginning with the first month you’re enrolled in Medicare, your HSA contribution limit is zero, so you can’t add new money. But you can take distributions at any time, and they’re tax free when used for qualified medical expenses.

Since the CARES Act, the IRS says over-the-counter medicines are reimbursable from HSAs without a prescription, for amounts paid after December 31, 2019. That means existing HSA money can pay for over-the-counter eye drops. Our guide on why OTC eye drops count for HSA and FSA explains the rule in more detail, and your HSA administrator can answer questions about your account.

Paying for Quell yourself

If you’re paying out of pocket, a few things keep the cost down. Orders of 3 or more bottles ship free, while smaller orders pay $10.00. There’s no account to create, and checkout works as a guest. Buyers must be 18 or older, and orders ship only within the United States. Unopened bottles can be refunded within 30 days of delivery without sending them back. More ideas are in how to pay less for eye drops.

Before you buy any eye drop

Whoever pays, read the label first. Quell’s Uses: For use as a protectant against further irritation or to relieve dryness of the eye. Its caution: Caution should be used in those with egg or bird allergies — For use in the eyes only. If you use prescription drops or have an eye condition your doctor is managing, ask them before adding an over-the-counter drop; the label doesn’t cover combining drops. The full panel is on the Drug Facts page.