Kroger Health teams with Anthem to offer consumers allowance to purchase groceries, health items with new Medicare Advantage plans

RICHMOND, Va. (WFXR) – Starting in 2022, Kroger Health, the healthcare division of Kroger as well as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, will offer new Medicare Advantage plans with benefits and services to address an individual’s whole-health needs and well-being.

Eligible members in one of the new Medicare Advantage plans, called “Anthem MediBlue + Kroger (HMO) and Anthem MediBlue + Kroger Access (PPO), will be given a Healthy Groceries Card, which will be loaded with $75 per month.

They will be able to use the card to purchase healthy groceries at Kroger, reducing their monthly out-of-pocket costs and helping them achieve a balanced and nutritious diet.

“Anthem and Kroger Health share the goals of improving access to cost-effective healthcare services, driving health outcomes improvement, and simplifying the healthcare experience. Anthem brings decades of experience working with consumers, clinicians, health systems, and other stakeholders to ensure health plans members have access to the care and services they need.”
Raul Smith, President of Anthem’s Medicare North/East Region

The eligible members will also be given a quarterly allowance to spend on their over-the-counter (OTC), health items at Kroger which aims to help members reduce their out-of-pocket healthcare costs because they will be able to use their OTC allowance on everyday health-related items like first aid supplies, support braces and pain relievers, instead of paying for those items with their own funds.

In addition, Kroger Health’s 2,200 pharmacies are in Anthem’s preferred network which will also help reduce out-of-pocket costs for members compared to using pharmacies outside of their network.

Plan members will also have access to the plan’s Healthy Pantry benefit which includes access to up to 12 monthly sessions with a Kroger Health dietitian who can provide additional education support. These members will also receive a monthly delivery of pantry staples from the grocer to help them make dietary changes.

Individuals who are interested in enrolling in a 2022 Medicare Advantage plan can do so during this year’s Medicare Annual Election Period, which began Oct. 15 and will continue through Dec. 7 and gives consumers in Medicare Parts A and B the opportunity to sign up for Anthem’s 2022 Medicare Advantage plans, which will be available to Medicare-eligible residents in the following areas: