In the United States, where chronic diseases are prevalent, ensuring access to healthy food is a critical public health concern. Healthy food benefit cards are emerging as a vital tool in addressing this challenge, offering targeted assistance to individuals and families, particularly older adults and those with specific health needs. These cards are part of a broader "Food is Medicine" movement, acknowledging the profound impact of nutrition on health outcomes.
Understanding Healthy Food Benefit Programs
Several programs and initiatives aim to improve access to nutritious food through various mechanisms, including benefit cards. These programs often target specific populations, such as seniors or individuals enrolled in particular healthcare plans.
USDA Food Assistance Programs for Seniors
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides food assistance to older adults with low incomes through programs like:
- Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP): This program offers coupons for purchasing fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs at farmers markets, roadside stands, and community farms.
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): This program provides a monthly package of healthy food, distributed through local agencies or, in some states, delivered directly to eligible individuals.
Eligibility for SFMNP and CSFP typically requires being 60 or older and having an income at or below 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines. These programs may not be available in every state, so it's essential to check local availability. If these programs are unavailable, seniors may be eligible for food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Medicare Advantage and Healthy Benefits Cards
Some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans offer a Medicare flex card as a benefit. This card, provided by insurers and not the government, can serve as a food allowance card for seniors. It may also cover utilities and transportation to medical appointments. However, not all Medicare Advantage plans offer these flex cards, so it's important to inquire about availability when choosing a plan.
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The Rise of Healthy Benefits Cards
Healthy benefits are increasingly integrated into healthcare plans, technology platforms, employer wellness programs, and government initiatives. These benefits are often delivered through cards that function like prepaid debit cards, restricting purchases to select grocery items or wellness products. The specific rules governing eligible purchases are determined by the provider or retailer.
Benefits Offered by Healthcare Providers
Many healthcare plans, especially Medicare Advantage plans, incorporate healthy benefits into their offerings, often distributed on a quarterly basis.
Benefits Offered by Technology Companies
Healthcare technology companies are also actively involved in the healthy benefits space, leveraging technology to facilitate access to nutritious food and wellness products.
Specific Examples of Healthy Benefit Cards
Several organizations and health plans offer healthy benefit cards with varying features and eligibility requirements:
- Humana Healthy Options Allowance: Humana Medicare Advantage plans offer a Healthy Options Allowance for members meeting specific criteria, such as having qualifying chronic health conditions. This allowance can be used for eligible food, utilities, phone service, or even rent or mortgage payments. The allowance amount varies by plan and location, starting at $25 per month, and is stored on a Humana Spending Account Card.
- UnitedHealthcare UCard: Eligible members with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans can receive credits on their UnitedHealthcare UCard® to purchase covered over-the-counter (OTC) products and wellness support. For 2026, verification of a qualifying chronic condition will be required to spend the monthly OTC credit on healthy food and utilities, but UnitedHealthcare has already verified a qualifying condition for a significant portion of its eligible members. Credits are loaded either quarterly or monthly, depending on the plan type, and can be used at various retail locations, including Walmart and CVS. The UCard can also be used to shop online for covered products.
- Healthy Benefits+ Visa® Card: Offered by UCare and EssentiaCare, this card provides flexibility and ease of use, offering access to allowance programs and rewards. Depending on the plan, the card may come pre-loaded with allowances for prescription eyewear, combined flexible benefits, and over-the-counter items. It can be used in-store, over the phone, or online at participating retailers and offers grocery discounts at participating stores.
- NGA Healthy Benefit Card Toolkit: The National Grocers Association (NGA) has partnered with Fincretive to create a Healthy Benefit Card Toolkit, encompassing various card types such as Food Is Medicine Cards, OTC Cards, Grocery Benefit Cards, and Medicaid Grocery Cards. Each health plan partners with a card processor and has its own Approved Product List (APL), which can complicate acceptance for independent grocers.
Navigating the Complexities of Healthy Benefit Cards
Independent grocers face challenges in accepting healthy benefit cards due to the variations in Approved Product Lists (APLs) among different health plans. Each health plan partners with one of the many major card processors and has a unique Approved Product List (APL), making acceptance complex for independent grocers. Each processor generally falls into one of two categories, Closed Loop or Open Loop. APL adjudication is completed by each processor and then Closed Loop also settle directly with retailers; Open Loop is settled separately. Historically, Closed Loop processors include Solutran and Incomm and Open Loop includes FIS, Nations Benefit, and Soda Health. To accept HBC/OTC cards, grocers must share product data with processors for adjudication. Each health plan has its own Approved Product List (APL), which dictates eligible purchases. During a transaction, the system screens the basket against the APL to ensure compliance. Independent grocers face challenges due to differences in product taxonomies. Integration: Gateway vs.
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During a transaction, the system screens the basket against the APL to ensure compliance. Independent grocers face challenges due to differences in product taxonomies.
The "Food is Medicine" Movement and its Impact
The rise of healthy benefit cards is closely linked to the "Food is Medicine" movement, which recognizes the critical role of nutrition in preventing and managing chronic diseases. By providing targeted assistance to purchase healthy foods, these cards can improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
As Sophie Ravitz, an intern at FMI and a public health student at American University, notes, "Access to fresh and healthy foods-critical for preventing chronic disease-is often shaped by…factors like economic stability, education access and quality, healthcare access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context." Healthy benefits and the "Food is Medicine" movement are crucial in addressing these social determinants of health.
Future Trends and Projections
The landscape of healthy benefits is expected to continue evolving, with increasing integration into healthcare plans and technology platforms. According to FMI’s 2024 Food Industry Contributions to Health & Well-Being report, 41% of retailers surveyed accepted health-insurance provided cards, another 5% accepted company-provided cards, and 14% have plans to accept cards in the next year. This indicates a growing acceptance of healthy benefit cards within the food retail industry.
For 2026, verification of a qualifying chronic condition will be required to spend your monthly OTC credit on healthy food and utilities within UnitedHealthcare plans. But, there’s good news. UnitedHealthcare have already verified a qualifying condition for 95% of our eligible members. This verification process is exclusive to UnitedHealthcare.
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