Get to Know Your Additional Benefits for 2026
Posted on November 21, 2025
Health New England Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO members have access to more than just medical benefits. You also get a robust selection of additional benefits which are covered under all Health New England Medicare Advantage plans. Read below to see what’s changing or being enhanced, and learn about our new vendor – NationsBenefits®.
New Vendor for 2026: Health New England’s Medicare Advantage Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card, additional benefits allowances, and Vision and Hearing benefits will be administered by our new vendor, NationsBenefits®, beginning January 1, 2026.
Additional Benefits Card: You will get a new Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card. This Additional Benefits Card will be effective starting on January 1, 2026. This convenient pre-loaded debit card gives you access to allowances, such as dental, fitness activities, weight management programs, acupuncture, activity tracker, plan-approved transportation and eligible over-the-counter (OTC) care items.
Dental Allowance: Members get an allowance for dental care and services with any dental provider of your choice. Your allowance will be uploaded to your new Additional Benefits Card at the beginning of the plan year (once per calendar year).
Hearing Aids & Hearing Exams: Members have a hearing aid benefit through our new vendor, NationsHearing®. Your plan covers up to two hearing aids per year (one per ear) when purchased through NationsHearing®. Save with our 3-tiered copayment structure (per aid) – choose from 3 options: $499 Standard, $699 Advanced, and $999 Premium. In addition, all of our plans cover one supplemental routine hearing exam per calendar year with $0 copay. You must obtain this service from a NationsHearing provider. Hearing aids purchased through other providers are not covered. Call NationsHearing to learn more at (877) 465-9035 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Care Items: Members get an allowance every three months for OTC items, which will be loaded onto your Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card (OTC allowance expires at the end of each quarter). Use your OTC allowance credits to purchase OTC products from certain retail locations or by ordering from the NationsBenefits website, app or catalog. Visit HNE.NationsBenefits.com.
Vision Care & Prescription Eyewear: With our new NationsVision® additional benefit, you pay nothing for one routine eye exam with refraction per calendar year. Members of Medicare Advantage HMO Premium, Plus and Value with Rx and PPO Compass plans get a $300 allowance for prescription eyewear every calendar year. For Medicare Advantage HMO Premium No Rx and Basic No Rx plans, members get a $200 allowance every two years. This allowance is applied at the point of service. You must use an in-network NationsVision provider for this service. Call NationsVision to learn more at (877) 465-9035 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
New Process – Comprehensive Health Assessment: In 2026, you can take a free, comprehensive Health Assessment via the Health New England member portal or by calling our Care Management team at (800) 842-4464, ext. 3940 (TTY: 711), Mon.—Fri., 8 a.m.—5 p.m.
Enhanced – Fitness, Wellness and Transportation Allowance: More qualifying activities have been added for 2026 to the Wellness/Fitness allowance for all plans. You will get a combined allowance for acupuncture, gym membership and training fees, fitness classes and apps, golf greens fees, ski lift tickets, exercise equipment and devices such as treadmill and activity tracker, weight management programs such as Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig, nutrition classes and apps, and transportation.
Note: Transportation must be to plan-approved health providers and locations (in-plan providers, facilities, pharmacies) via one-way taxi, ride-share, bus, subway, van, medical transport. Prior approval for transportation is required by calling NationsBenefits at (877) 465-9035 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m.—8 p.m. ET, 7 days a week. NationsBenefits will arrange your transportation.
Enhanced – Preventive Care Rewards: Preventive Care Incentives for 2026 have been expanded. Rewards will be uploaded to your Additional Benefits Card after completion of the following activities:
- Annual Well-Care Visit or Physical Exam – $25
- Home Visit with Signify Health – $25
- Health Assessment Form – $10
Note: This rewards program is limited to one reward per year, which must be used by 12/31/2026. Reward for preventive visit is granted based on claims information following a qualifying preventive care visit. Allow approx. 2—4 weeks for reward upload once claim is processed. Your PCP must bill this visit as an annual physical or well-care visit.
Other Additional Benefits Not Changing
- Care Management
- findhelp: healthnewengland.findhelp.com
- Mom’s Meals Program (Post-Discharge)
- Nutritional Counseling
- Teladoc® Telehealth Services
- Virta: Weight Loss & Diabetes Reversal
- WebMD® ONE Healthy Directions access
- Wellth: Digital Care Program
Visit healthnewengland.org/medicare/Additional-Benefits to learn about all your 2026 additional benefits.
Download the 2026 Additional Benefits, Allowances and Programs book.
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