Heritage Grocers Group has begun a retail technology integration through which health plan members can use their NationsBenefits Mastercard Prepaid Cards at the grocer’s banners to buy fresh produce, pantry staples and over-the-counter wellness essentials.
By embedding its Basket Adjudication Service technology platform into checkout systems, NationsBenefits is providing members the freedom to use their supplemental benefits wherever they shop.
“Independent grocers play a vital role in the health and vitality of local communities,” said Michael Parker, co-CEO of NationsBenefits. “By integrating Heritage into our expansive retail network, we’re enabling families to redeem their supplemental benefits on fresh, locally sourced foods and essential wellness products.”
At each checkout, the BAS technology validates benefit eligibility, whether for whole grains, fresh eggs, vitamins or over-the-counter medications. This real-world data guides the refinement of benefit designs and ensures plan offerings align with actual member behaviors and nutrition gaps.
Plans can deploy targeted preventive-care outreach campaigns, such as educational content or mobile clinic pop-ups in under-served ZIP codes. Also by connecting transaction patterns into personalized rewards and incentives programs, health plans boost member engagement, reinforce care adherence and decrease avoidable health situations.
“Heritage Grocers Group is committed to nourishing the health and wellness of the communities we serve,” said Adam Salgado, president and executive director, HGG Foundation.
“Partnering with NationsBenefits allows us to extend our mission by integrating health-focused benefits directly at our stores to ensure every family has access to the foods and wellness products they need to thrive.”
Studies and programs also recently have shown that community-based medically tailored meals and food as medicine programs can cut hospitalizations by up to 49 percent, reduce overall healthcare costs by 16 percent and reduce A1C levels by 1.5.
Ontario, California-based Heritage Grocers Group (HGG) is the largest Hispanic and ethnic food retailer in the country, offering an extensive assortment of traditional and specialty grocery items.
The company operates in California, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Nevada and Texas, with 58 stores under the Cardenas Markets banner and 29 under El Rancho Supermercado. It also has 21 Tony’s Fresh Market stores and seven Los Altos Ranch Markets.
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