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Food and Produce Benefit

Some Select Health Medicare plans offer a monthly Food and Produce benefit to help members with a qualifying chronic condition access nutritious food that supports their overall health.

Some examples of healthy food items are:

  • Fresh fruits: apples, bananas, grapes, oranges
  • Vegetables: broccoli, carrots, spinach, bell peppers
  • Breads and whole grains: whole wheat bread, brown rice, quinoa, pasta
  • Proteins: chicken breast, ground turkey, eggs, canned beans
  • Dairy: milk, yogurt, cheese
  • Snacks: nuts, granola bars, popcorn
  • Pantry essentials: olive oil, pasta sauce, spices
  • Beverages: herbal tea, coffee, fruit juice

Items such as alcohol, tobacco, and non-food items are not covered. Store-level manager specials are excluded, meaning you will pay out-of-pocket for the item.

Important Notes About the Food and Produce Benefit

  • Some plans combine the Food and Produce benefit with other benefits. Check the Evidence of Coverage for more information.
  • Kroger plans require you to purchase approved food items at participating Kroger-affiliated stores like Smith’s, King Soopers, and City Market.
  • Dual (D-SNP) plans require you to purchase approved food items at NationsBenefits-approved retailers.
  • The Food and Produce benefit is a Supplemental Benefit for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI). Members must have a qualifying chronic condition to get access to this benefit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Members with a qualifying chronic condition on a Select Health Medicare + Kroger (HMO) or Select Health Medicare Dual (HMO) plan receive a monthly allowance on their Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card to purchase healthy food and produce.

Examples of approved healthy groceries include:

  • Fresh fruits: apples, bananas, grapes, oranges
  • Vegetables: broccoli, carrots, spinach, bell peppers
  • Breads and whole grains: whole wheat bread, brown rice, quinoa, pasta
  • Proteins: chicken breast, ground turkey, eggs, canned beans
  • Dairy: milk, yogurt, cheese
  • Snacks: nuts, granola bars, popcorn
  • Pantry essentials: olive oil, pasta sauce, spices
  • Beverages: herbal tea, coffee, fruit juice

Items such as alcohol, tobacco, and non-food items are not covered. Store-level manager specials are excluded, meaning you will pay out-of-pocket for the item.

  • If enrolled in a Select Health Medicare + Kroger (HMO), you can use your Food and Produce benefit at Kroger-affiliated grocery stores nationwide, including Smith's, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, and City Market. Groceries can only be purchased at physical Kroger-affiliated stores and not online.
  • If enrolled in a Select Health Medicare Dual (HMO) plan, you can use your Food and Produce benefit at approved retail locations and online at selecthealth.nationsbenefits.com or walmart.com.

To find approved retail locations near you, visit selecthealth.nationsbenefits.com, download the Benefits Pro app, or call NationsBenefits at 833-878-0232 (TTY: 711).

Members with access to the Food and Produce benefit will have a monthly allowance expiring on the last day of the month at 10 p.m. MST / 9 p.m. PST. Food and Produce benefit funds do not roll over, so you have until the end of the month to use them. New funds will be available on the first day of the new month.

You can manage your Wellness Your Way allowance by:

Once you notify us that you have an eligible chronic condition, we will do the following to verify that condition:

  • Attempt to verify the condition by reviewing claims received within the last year
  • Fax and call your provider to confirm the chronic condition
  • If we are not able to confirm your condition, we will notify you via letter that we were unsuccessful in our verification

Once Select Health has confirmation of your condition, we will unlock the Food and Produce portion of the monthly benefit available to use on your Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card:

  • If the condition is confirmed before your effective date on the plan, your Food and Produce benefit will be unlocked on the first day of your coverage
  • If the condition is confirmed after your effective date but by the 20th of the month, your Food and Produce benefit will be unlocked for the current month
  • If the condition is confirmed after your effective date and after the 20th of the month, your Food and Produce benefit will be unlocked the first of the following month

Get verified.
Start the verification process by completing this form:

Online Form

Printable Form