Ahold Delhaize USA has inked a deal with NationsBenefits under which Medicare Advantage and Medicaid members can use a prepaid benefits card issued by the financial technology company to buy fresh produce, pantry staples and over-the-counter wellness items in the grocery company’s stores.
The card, known as the Benefits Mastercard Prepaid Flex Card, uses technology that determines whether items are benefits-eligible during checkout. The system makes it easier for customers to tap their supplemental health benefits while also streamlining processing for health plan administrators, the companies said.
Ahold Delhaize, which runs supermarkets under banners including Food Lion, Hannaford, Giant Food, The Giant Company and Stop & Shop, described the arrangement as a way to help shoppers more easily and affordably access nutritious foods. The grocer’s collaboration with NationsBenefits is “not just about offering another way to pay — it’s about supporting healthier living and access for more families to nutritious foods and wellness items,” Ahold Delhaize USA Chief Sustainability Officer Marc Stolzman said in a statement.
In addition, benefits providers can use data about purchases made with the card to help craft programs that reflect community needs, offering “a scalable approach to preventive nutrition that supports healthier outcomes nationwide,” according to the announcement.
Ahold Delhaize joins other retailers, including Albertsons and Southeastern Grocers, in agreeing to work with NationsBenefits to enable shoppers to use healthcare benefits to purchase groceries. Instacart has a similar arrangement with the fintech company.
