Can I Buy CBD With Medicare?

You can't swipe your Medicare card at a store or pharmacy to buy CBD. That's not how it works. But you may be able to receive qualifying CBD products at no cost through your doctor's Accountable Care Organization (ACO) under a program called the Substance Access Benefit Enhancement Initiative (BEI). The products come to you through a healthcare channel, not a retail checkout.

For the complete breakdown of how Medicare and CBD interact, see our Medicare CBD guide.

Quick Facts

You cannot use your Medicare card to purchase CBD at a store or pharmacy
CBD access through Medicare works via your doctor's ACO and the Substance Access BEI
Eligible patients can receive up to $500 per year in qualifying products at no cost
Your doctor's ACO must be enrolled for you to benefit
If your ACO doesn't participate, you can buy CBD directly from farm-direct brands like Edify

Why Can't I Just Use My Medicare Card?

Medicare works through an insurance billing system. CBD isn't an FDA-approved prescription drug (except for one epilepsy medication), so it doesn't have a billing code that pharmacies can submit to Medicare. There's no mechanism for a store to charge Medicare for a bottle of CBD oil.

The BEI is a separate channel entirely. It operates through your ACO, which manages the product sourcing, approval, and delivery. No Medicare card needed at the point of access.

So How Does CBD Come to Me Through Medicare?

Through your doctor's ACO, if they participate. Here's the basic flow:

Your primary care doctor's ACO enrolls in the Substance Access BEI
The ACO selects qualifying CBD products that meet CMS standards
Eligible patients are identified and enrolled in the benefit
Products are ordered and delivered to patients at no cost
The ACO tracks usage against the $500 annual cap per patient

You don't go to a store. You don't pay. The ACO handles it. For a step-by-step guide, see how to get CBD from your doctor through Medicare.

Does This Mean I Can't Shop for My Own CBD?

Not at all. If you want to buy CBD yourself, you absolutely can. Edify sells directly to consumers at farm-direct prices, which are significantly lower than what you'd pay at a retail store. The BEI program is one option, but it's not the only way to access quality CBD.

Our CBD Gummies for Sleep, CBD Gummies for Pain, and Full Spectrum CBD Oil with CBG are all available for direct purchase. Our subscribe and save option brings costs down even further.

What If I Have Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Advantage plans sometimes include supplemental wellness benefits. Some of these can cover products like fitness memberships, dental care, or even certain wellness supplements. It's worth calling your plan's member services number and asking specifically whether any CBD or hemp wellness products are covered under your plan's supplemental benefits.

Separately, if your doctor's ACO participates in the BEI, you may be eligible for that program regardless of your plan type. Read more on our Medicare Advantage CBD coverage page.

Can I Use an HSA or FSA to Buy CBD?

This is a separate question from Medicare but worth mentioning. HSA (Health Savings Account) and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) eligibility for CBD depends on your account administrator and whether the purchase is deemed a medical expense. Some accounts cover it, some don't. Check with your plan administrator before assuming CBD qualifies.

Is There Any Way to Get Reimbursed for CBD I Already Bought?

Not through standard Medicare. Medicare doesn't reimburse for over-the-counter supplements or wellness products purchased out of pocket. The BEI is a prospective program, meaning products come to you in advance through the ACO rather than reimbursing you afterward.

How Do I Find Out If My Doctor's ACO Is Enrolled?

The easiest way is to ask directly at your next appointment. You can say: "I've read that some ACOs offer CBD products to patients through a CMS program called the Substance Access BEI. Does your practice participate?"

If they don't know what the BEI is, that's okay. You can point them toward the CMS Innovation Center website. Many primary care offices are still learning about this program. Our guide on talking to your doctor about CBD and Medicare has a simple script you can use.

What Happens After I Ask?

If your doctor's ACO is enrolled, they'll walk you through the enrollment process. It's usually simple. If they're not enrolled, you have a few options: ask if they plan to enroll, request a referral to a participating provider, or buy CBD directly.

Edify products meet every standard the BEI requires. We're USDA organic, Seed-to-Self, and third-party tested on every batch. Whether you get your CBD through the BEI or through us directly, you're getting quality you can verify.

See our Seed-to-Self process and lab results to understand what we mean by that.

How Much Does CBD Cost If I Buy It Myself?

Retail CBD prices vary widely. At a wellness store or pharmacy, a bottle of full-spectrum CBD oil might run $50 to $90 or more. Edify sells direct, which cuts out the retail margin. Our prices are typically 30% to 50% lower than comparable retail products, and our quality is higher because we control the entire growing and production process.

The $500 annual BEI benefit roughly translates to what a dedicated CBD user might spend in a year at those prices. If you qualify, it's worth pursuing. If you don't, Edify's direct pricing makes regular use affordable anyway.

See all Medicare CBD frequently asked questions

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Written by the Edify Wellness Team