NationsBenefits is transforming the way insurers and patients use their health benefits on a daily basis. The company partners with Medicare and Medicaid (public health insurance programs in the United States) and private insurers to provide data analytics tools and solutions designed to improve the health of populations in many communities living in medical deserts. In partnership with Mastercard, the company has developed a prepaid card that allows its millions of users to purchase medications and pharmacy items.
Food City operates 164 stores, including 120 pharmacies, in southeastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia, eastern Tennessee, northern Georgia, and Alabama. With the addition of its network to the list of stores eligible for the NationsBenefits card, customers can now use their card to purchase food products suitable for medical treatment. Food City serves communities in the Southeast and the Appalachian regions, where access to healthy food and healthcare resources can be limited. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these regions have some of the highest rates in the country for chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity, particularly in rural or underserved areas. These disparities are even more pronounced among populations covered by Medicaid and Medicare Advantage, for whom nutrition plays a central role in the prevention and management of long-term conditions.
Thanks to this integration, eligible health plan members can use their NationsBenefits prepaid card at all participating Food City stores to purchase products approved under the “food as medicine” approach, over-the-counter health products, and other essential goods. This seamless in-store acceptance is made possible by NationsBenefits’ Basket Analyzer Service, which enables real-time, item-by-item validation of eligible products at the point of payment. This eliminates manual processes and reimbursement delays, while improving the user experience and access for members.
“Access to food and nutrition are fundamental to improving public health, particularly in communities most affected by chronic diseases,”, said Michael Parker, co-CEO of NationsBenefits . “By expanding the use of our card at Food City, we’re helping insurers link health to everyday shopping and making it easier for members to access healthier foods and essential items right where they already shop.”
