Blue Shield of California offers an over-the-counter (OTC) items benefit which covers OTC health and wellness products, including first-aid supplies, pain relievers, cough and cold medicines, and more. This benefit includes a quarterly allowance.
 

Are you eligible for the OTC items benefit?

You are eligible if you have one of the following Blue Shield of California plans:

County Blue Shield Inspire (HMO)² Blue Shield Inspire (HMO D-SNP) Blue Shield Select (PPO)2 Blue Shield 65 Plus (HMO) Blue Shield 65 Plus Choice Plan (HMO) Blue Shield Advantage Optimum Plan (HMO) Blue Shield Advantage Optimum Plan 1 (HMO) Blue Shield TotalDual Plan (HMO D-SNP) Medicare Supplement Plan G Extra*
Alameda            
Fresno                
Kern              
Los Angeles          
Madera                
Merced            
Orange        
Riverside              
Sacramento                
San Bernardino            
San Diego        
San Joaquin            
San Luis Obispo              
San Mateo              
Santa Barbara              
Santa Clara              
Stanislaus            
Ventura                

If your plan is not listed above, check your Evidence of Coverage (EOC) to see if your plan has the OTC items benefit.
*Please note – Medicare Supplement Plan G Extra is offered Statewide in CA. The table above represents only a subset of those counties.

Quarterly benefit allowance

To find out how much your OTC items benefit covers each quarter1, check your plan's Summary of Benefits or Evidence of Coverage. You can place two orders per quarter or one order per month depending on your plan. Unused allowance does not roll over into the next quarter or month. Some limitations may apply. Refer to the OTC Items Catalog for more information.

How to place an order

You can place an order online or by phone. Orders typically arrive within two weeks by mail. Refer to the OTC Items Catalog for more information. 

Download your 2025 OTC Items Catalog

Blue Shield OTC Items Catalog (English) (PDF, 2.2 MB) 

Blue Shield OTC Items Catalog (Spanish) (PDF, 4.6 MB)

Blue Shield OTC Items Catalog (Chinese) (PDF, 3.6 MB)

Blue Shield OTC Items Catalog (Korean) (PDF, 3.7 MB)

Blue Shield OTC Items Catalog (Vietnamese) (PDF, 4.2 MB)

To see if your plan has the OTC items benefit and to place online orders, log in or register. To request a printed copy of the catalog, call the Customer Service number on your Blue Shield member ID card.

Questions about your OTC items benefit?

If you have any questions, please call OTC Health Solutions at (888) 628-2770 (TTY:711), Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Pacific time. Translation services are available at this number.

 

Log in / Create account

1 Quarterly allowance: January – March; April – June; July – September; October – December.
2 Available in select group plans; refer to your Evidence of Coverage to determine if you have this benefit.

Y0118_25_096A_C 02182025
H2819_25_096A_C Accepted 02232025

Page last updated: 2/23/2025

*Free digital copy with no obligation to enroll.

† Blue Shield Medicare Advisers are available April 1 through September 30: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekdays and October 1 through March 31: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

© California Physician’s Service DBA Blue Shield of California 1999-2025. All rights reserved.

California Physician’s Service DBA Blue Shield of California is an independent member of the Blue Shield Association.

Blue Shield of California 601 12th Street, Oakland, CA 94607.

For Blue Shield Medicare Advantage Plans: Blue Shield of California is an HMO, HMO D-SNP, PPO and a PDP plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the California State Medicaid Program. Enrollment in Blue Shield of California depends on contract renewal.

 
 
The company complies with applicable state laws and federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate, exclude people, or treat them differently on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic group identification, medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, religion, sex, marital status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental disability, or physical disability. La compañía cumple con las leyes de derechos civiles federales y estatales aplicables, y no discrimina, ni excluye ni trata de manera diferente a las personas por su raza, color, país de origen, identificación con determinado grupo étnico, condición médica, información genética, ascendencia, religión, sexo, estado civil, género, identidad de género, orientación sexual, edad, ni discapacidad física ni mental. 本公司遵守適用的州法律和聯邦民權法律，並且不會以種族、膚色、原國籍、族群認同、醫療狀況、遺傳資訊、血統、宗教、性別、婚姻狀況、性別認同、性取向、年齡、精神殘疾或身體殘疾而進行歧視、排斥或區別對待他人。