Does Medicare Cover Ensure? It Depends on Your Advantage Plan

Medicare's coverage of nutritional supplements like Ensure depends on the type of plan. Original Medicare typically excludes these products unless they are medically essential or administered in a clinical setting. However, some Medicare Advantage plans now provide benefits that help pay for over-the-counter items, including Ensure.

Ensure is a nutritional drink packed with vitamins, minerals, protein, and fats. The FDA oversees supplements like Ensure but does not approve them as strictly as prescription drugs. Original Medicare does not cover Ensure because it classifies the product as a supplement rather than a medical necessity.

Medicare may pay for Ensure only in rare cases, such as when it is given as part of treatment in a hospital or skilled nursing facility under Part A. Even then, coverage remains unlikely for most patients. For those with a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, the situation differs. Many of these plans include over-the-counter (OTC) benefits, often through prepaid cards, which can be used to buy supplements like Ensure.

As of 2026, around 5,766 Medicare Advantage plans across all 50 states and US territories offer OTC benefits that reimburse for products such as Ensure, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). For example, Walgreens currently accepts OTC cards from participating Medicare Advantage plans for Ensure purchases. To confirm whether a specific plan covers the supplement, checking the Evidence of Coverage (EOC) document or contacting a plan representative is recommended.

While Original Medicare rarely covers Ensure, many Medicare Advantage plans now provide OTC benefits that include nutritional supplements. These benefits allow enrollees to purchase Ensure at participating retailers like Walgreens. To verify coverage, policyholders should review their plan details or speak with a representative.