<p>By Sophie Ravitz, Intern, FMI </p><div><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/produce-prescription.tmb-large-350-.jpg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=bbf6fde_1" style="margin-bottom:10px;float:right;margin-left:10px;" alt="Produce Prescription" class="-align-right" sf-size="100" /><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="68634569" paraeid="{a982f26f-072c-45f4-9d58-12ab31261625}{28}">As a senior at American University studying public health, I frequently reflect on the foundations of public health, which are rooted in the “Social Determinants of Health.” These include factors like economic stability, education access and quality, healthcare access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context. </p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="1637429974" paraeid="{a982f26f-072c-45f4-9d58-12ab31261625}{31}">Access to fresh and healthy foods—critical for preventing chronic disease—is often shaped by these determinants. The strides in healthy benefits and the "Food is Medicine" movement represent major milestones in addressing these challenges. As a nation, the United States leads in rates of chronic disease, but with concerted efforts, this trend can change over time. </p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="1166440175" paraeid="{a982f26f-072c-45f4-9d58-12ab31261625}{34}">Having grown up immersed in the food retail space and with a passion for public health and community well-being, I see healthy benefits and "Food is Medicine" as the perfect intersection of my interests. Achieving lasting change, however, requires collective efforts—local, statewide, nationwide, and even global. </p></div><div><h5 xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="631867703" paraeid="{7d5d9db7-ac9f-4624-b0da-7976040d20fd}{229}">Healthy Benefits in 2024 </h5></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="818318687" paraeid="{7d5d9db7-ac9f-4624-b0da-7976040d20fd}{240}">The landscape of healthy benefits in 2024 is rapidly evolving, especially as we move into a new calendar year and presidency. The upward trajectory of healthy benefits from a Medicare Advantage perspective is <a href="https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2023/may/healthy-benefits-programs-for-retailers.html#:~:text=In%20the%20US%2C%20healthy%20benefits,reached%20%24200%20billion%20in%202023." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">projected</a> to continue expanding, creating unique opportunities for consumers and retailers to enhance health and well-being. </p></div><div><h5 xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="457319111" paraeid="{7d5d9db7-ac9f-4624-b0da-7976040d20fd}{251}">Healthy Benefits Cards </h5></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="1918883687" paraeid="{94588f70-3af2-438c-b07f-3439b6b38616}{7}">Healthy benefits are increasingly being made available through health care providers, technology companies, employers, government agencies, and more. Many of these distributors offer benefits through cards that function like prepaid debit cards, allowing purchases of select grocery items or wellness products. However, what can and cannot be purchased depends on the specific rules set by each provider or retailer. </p></div><div><h5 xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="846427827" paraeid="{94588f70-3af2-438c-b07f-3439b6b38616}{18}">Health Care Provider-Based Benefits </h5></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="132927024" paraeid="{94588f70-3af2-438c-b07f-3439b6b38616}{29}">Several healthcare plans, particularly Medicare Advantage plans, now include healthy benefits as part of their offerings, often on a quarterly basis. These benefits may be bundled with other allowances for over-the-counter products or provided through prepaid cards. </p><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="132927024" paraeid="{94588f70-3af2-438c-b07f-3439b6b38616}{29}"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Major providers offering these benefits include: </span></p></div><ul xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="1056790141" paraeid="{94588f70-3af2-438c-b07f-3439b6b38616}{40}"><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">UnitedHealthcare </span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Humana </span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">CVS Health (Aetna) </span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Cigna </span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">WellCare </span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Blue Cross Blue Shield </span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Kaiser Permanente </span></li></ul><p><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span>Here are some examples of benefits cards currently available: </p><ul><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">UnitedHealthcare UCard </span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Humana Spending Account Card </span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">WellCare Spendables Card </span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Aetna Extra Benefits Card </span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Aetna Healthy Foods Card </span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Benefits Prepaid Card </span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Kaiser Permanente Healthy Food Card Allowance </span>
</li></ul><div><h5 xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="1926740358" paraeid="{d9d52b41-36a8-4c63-b2ab-499390d03f87}{21}">Technology Company-Based Benefits </h5></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="1597420942" paraeid="{d9d52b41-36a8-4c63-b2ab-499390d03f87}{34}">Health care technology companies are also playing a significant role in the healthy benefits space. These companies often provide apps and software to help consumers track their benefits balances, while some offer their own healthy benefits cards. </p><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="1597420942" paraeid="{d9d52b41-36a8-4c63-b2ab-499390d03f87}{34}"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Examples include: </span></p></div><ul><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"><strong>Soda Health</strong>: Soda Health derives its name from the Social Determinants of Health (SODA) and has a mission of creating health equity through individualized benefits through the “&more” card, with a downloadable app for tracking benefits. </span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"><strong>Nations Benefits</strong>: The Flex Card, which can be tracked using the Benefits Pro Portal & App.</span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"><strong>InComm</strong>: Cards such as the Dual Network Benefit Card, Healthy Foods Benefit Card, and Restricted Spend Cards, all trackable via the OTC Network mobile app.</span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"><strong>Soultran</strong>: The “OneCard,” supported by the S3 Network benefits platform.</span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"><strong>FIS</strong>: A prepaid card monitored through Filtered Spend services.</span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"><strong>Fresh Connect</strong>: The “Fresh Connect Prepaid Card,” trackable via the consumer’s healthcare plan’s preferred system.</span></li><li><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"><strong>WEX</strong>: The WEX Medicare Advantage Flex Card, managed through their benefits platform and mobile app. </span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"> </span>
</li></ul><div><h5 xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="514129908" paraeid="{d9d52b41-36a8-4c63-b2ab-499390d03f87}{162}">Looking Ahead </h5></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="1469238585" paraeid="{6a289887-832f-4a0b-ae47-5a36a2ba22b7}{184}">Our members have made significant strides in this space, which continues to grow as we move into 2025. According to FMI’s <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/2024-report-on-food-industry-contributions-to-health-wellbeing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Food Industry Contributions to Health & Well-Being</a> 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. </p></div><div><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="476848625" paraeid="{6a289887-832f-4a0b-ae47-5a36a2ba22b7}{180}">FMI remains committed to providing members with the tools they need to meet the evolving needs of consumers and aid in their missions of feeding families and enriching lives. FMI has developed a range of resources to help members better understand healthy benefits, including two white papers – one on <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/healthy-benefits-wellbeing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how accepting healthy benefits cards support customers</a> and another on <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/HealthyBenefitsProgramsWhitepaper" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how to unlock the benefits of healthy benefits programs</a> – and <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/HealthandWellBeingBundle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on-demand recordings</a> created jointly with Oliver Wyman. </p></div>
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