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What to know about 2026 OTC, healthy food and utility benefit changes

UnitedHealthcare·October 9, 2026
What to know about 2026 OTC, healthy food and utility benefit changes

UnitedHealthcare provides guidance on how the 2026 expiration of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model impacts supplemental benefits. This change affects the availability of non-medical credits, such as healthy food and utility allowances, that were previously offered through certain Medicare Advantage plans.

HNH Insight

The article clarifies that the sunsetting of the VBID model is a significant regulatory shift for 2026, directly impacting how Medicare Advantage plans structure and fund their supplemental grocery and utility allowance programs.

Read original article on UnitedHealthcare
Medicare Advantage
OTC benefits
healthy food allowance
CMS
VBID
UnitedHealthcare

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