Notes
*FOR $20 MENSTRUAL-CARE OTC BENEFIT: Aetna Better Health female members ages 10 to 55.
Get $20 of feminine care products. Every month. In store or delivered to your door.
As a CVS Health company, we’re offering you this menstrual-care OTC benefit as part of your Aetna Better Health® benefits. You can use the money to spend on some menstrual and personal care products listed within the OTC Item Catalog — English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF).
Menstrual care
Tampons, maxi pads, ultra-thin pads, feminine wipes, menstrual period relief, etc.
Personal care
Underwear, protective bladder pads, vaginal anti-itch cream, cleansing wash, etc.
Taking care of you every month, period.
TIME CODE CAPTION
00:00:07:16 It is a little stressful having to come up with money for period supplies.
00:00:11:15 Sometimes you may not have it.
00:00:13:10 It's a tough economy, and sometimes you have to borrow.
00:00:16:20 It's like a shameful feeling to not have money for what your kids need.
00:00:21:23 The period stipend benefit is a program that we created
00:00:25:16 as an enhanced benefit for our members to address period inequity.
00:00:29:28 Period inequity is the inability of women, especially low-income women,
00:00:34:12 to afford menstrual health products to meet their health care needs.
00:00:38:11 As a female member of Aetna Better Health® of Virginia,
00:00:42:06 you can receive period products each month.
00:00:46:07 You can get those through the mail,
00:00:48:22 you can get them by calling us,
00:00:50:22 or you can pick them up at your CVS pharmacy®.
00:00:53:24 The stipend is $20 a month,
00:00:56:17 and it really helps to meet a serious unmet need
00:01:01:10 among members for their period health.
00:01:05:10 It was time to pick a new insurance company for open enrollment.
00:01:09:05 I was looking through a couple of different websites,
00:01:11:27 and thought I would check out Aetna and if they had any new benefits.
00:01:15:20 My daughter told me about it.
00:01:17:26 She told me it would be good for me, I can save some money.
00:01:21:04 I wouldn't have to spend all my money on pads and wipes.
00:01:24:27 So I was interested, she had me from that.
00:01:27:26 We knew that we wanted to offer an ongoing monthly stipend.
00:01:31:26 But we also know that it's critical to get the word out,
00:01:35:01 so that people understand what benefits are offered to them
00:01:38:00 and be able to access them.
00:01:39:27 So the box was a way to get this out to members,
00:01:42:28 potential members, providers,
00:01:45:18 so that they knew what we were doing here.
00:01:48:23 We also engaged our key provider groups,
00:01:51:19 our federally qualified health centers
00:01:54:04 and gave them boxes so that they can give out in their practices,
00:01:57:24 along with tooltips to explain what the benefit meant.
00:02:01:11 We created posters and cards with QR scan codes
00:02:06:10 that made it easy for members to access.
00:02:08:27 We created customized web pages to direct our members to information.
00:02:14:28 And we did text messaging campaigns to alert them about this benefit.
00:02:19:17 I have the opportunity to go out on health fairs,
00:02:22:27 and when I see that our outreach team is handing these period packs out,
00:02:28:10 some of the people there are very elated.
00:02:30:20 Some cry a little bit
00:02:32:06 and then they're like, thank you very much.
00:02:34:02 We really appreciate you doing this.
00:02:35:26 It was amazing to see all the things that were included when you open the box.
00:02:40:20 People are not going to have the extra money sometimes,
00:02:44:00 so a lot of the things that were in those boxes were nice.
00:02:47:09 OK, all right. And if you need help carrying, we can help you.
00:02:50:12 Thank you!
00:02:51:10 Every time I talk about it,
00:02:52:23 every time I think about the changes that it's going to make in someone's life,
00:02:56:23 is what really, really makes me proud of what we do here.
00:02:59:23 Health is something more than filling a prescription
00:03:02:19 that you get at the doctor's office.
00:03:04:27 It's about access to health care,
00:03:09:08 and it's about providing services that help members stay well.
00:03:14:25 No one should have to worry about the adequacy of feminine hygiene products
00:03:20:28 when they're trying to go about their daily life
00:03:23:08 at work, at home, and in public.
00:03:26:14 Just knowing that my children and I, our period supplies are covered -
00:03:31:23 it takes a load off of our minds, really it does.
00:03:34:25 My mom had that problem, I have that problem and so does my daughter.
00:03:38:25 Sometimes you might not have it, you have to choose between pads,
00:03:42:05 or the rent, or gas. And now I don't have to worry about that.
00:03:46:13 I'm definitely going to have my menstrual products.
Order online
Order online
Ready to order? Just visit OTC Health Solutions and sign in with your member ID and password. Or create a new account if you’re a first-time visitor. You’ll need an email address to set up your account.
Once you sign in, your benefit amount and balance will be displayed at the top of the page.
- Browse through the list of products and add to your basket. Your order total will automatically deduct from your balance at the top of the page.
- Choose “Checkout” when you’re ready to place your order.
- Confirm your shipping address, review your order and place your order. Most orders will arrive in less than 7 business days, though it may take longer during peak busy times.
- Expect to receive an email with tracking info once your order has shipped and another email once your order has been delivered.
By phone: Call OTC Health Solutions at 1-888-628-2770 (TTY: 711). You can speak with someone live Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM. Or you can order at any time via our automated interactive voice response (IVR) machine. Just have your member ID ready when placing your order.
In store: See the OTC Item Catalog — English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF). for instructions on how to pick up your items in store. Or learn more by calling OTC Health Solutions at 1-888-628-2770 (TTY: 711). You can call Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM.
Quick tip
You’ll need to order supplies for each benefit period by 11:59 PM on the last day of the month.
If you don’t use all the money in your benefit, it doesn’t roll over to the next month. So be sure to use up the full amount each month.
You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers.
As women, we have enough things to worry about already. Having enough supplies to help us manage our monthly period shouldn't be one of them.
Less access to menstrual-care products (like tampons and pads) can lead to unhealthy habits. Some people may use items for long periods of time. Or they may resort to using other options, like paper towels or newspapers. This can cause serious health problems, like yeast infections, toxic shock syndrome and more.
By offering this benefit, we can help members with periods take proper care of themselves every month.
Yes. If you are eligible for another OTC benefit, this menstrual-care OTC benefit will be separate.
You can use your OTC benefit as many times as you need, up to $20 per month.
No, unused benefit amounts do not roll over to the next month.
Yes. You can order more than the $20 benefit amount, but you’ll need to pay using another form of payment for anything over that amount.
Most orders will arrive in less than 7 business days. It may take longer during peak busy periods. If you haven’t received your order within 14 days, call OTC Health Solutions at 1-888-628-2770 (TTY: 711).
Yes, you can cancel your order within 30 minutes of placing it. To cancel an order, just call OTC Health Solutions at 1-888-628-2770 (TTY: 711).
Once you’ve placed your order, you will receive a confirmation number. Always make sure to keep note of your confirmation number.
Here are some resources you can check out:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Questions?
For more info about this benefit: Just call Member Services at 1-800-279-1878 (TTY: 711). We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For help with your order: Call OTC Health Solutions at 1-888-628-2770 (TTY: 711). You can call Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM.
