NYC program aims to make healthy food cheaper

The city of New York is adopting a new program to promote healthier eating and address the health disparities caused by food insecurity.

The Healthy Savings program is based on the model UnitedHealthcare started in 2015 among its plan members in Wisconsin and has since expanded to Illinois, Virginia and the District of Columbia, as well as to those in employer-sponsored plans in New York and New Jersey.

The NYC program is sponsored by the city’s Office of Food Policy, healthcare organizations and other entities.

“One of the things we know is that nutrition and healthy eating are a good part of overall health,” said Michael McGuire, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of New York.

“We wanted to make nutritious food more affordable—we thought it was a good connection to help people live healthier lives by eating healthier, and overall that will improve health and ultimately make healthcare more affordable.”

The New York City model is basically a digital coupon system that offers food items that will be discounted for participants. Savings can be as high as 50% for fresh produce. The average discount is between 25% and 30% for other food items like lean meats, milk, bread, yogurt, beans and cereal. Participants could save up to $10 a week, or $520 a year, on fresh fruits and vegetables through the program.

McGuire said UnitedHealthcare’s Healthy Savings program can reduce monthly grocery bills for eligible users by more than $150. Approximately 300,000 plan members in the New York/New Jersey region are eligible for the program, according to McGuire. He said plan members in other states have saved more than $1.5 million in food costs so far.

“We wanted to make nutritious food more affordable.” Michael McGuire

CEO UnitedHealthcare of New York