Kentucky teams up with HumanaVitality to lower the cost of healthier foods | Families

Kentucky Employees' Health Plan's LivingWell program announced today its participation in Vitality HealthyFood, making health plan members who shop at Walmart eligible for five percent savings on healthier foods.

The foods that qualify for Walmart's Great For You icon, include fresh fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy.

Vitality HealthyFood, a first-of-its-kind effort to help consumers save money on more-nutritious foods and ultimately, live longer, healthier lives, was launched four months ago by HumanaVitality and Walmart. The program offers savings on items that qualify for Walmart's Great For You icon, which was developed in consultation with food and nutrition experts in the public and private sector, as well as leading health organizations.

“Through our partnership with HumanaVitality we are able to offer KEHP members forward thinking, innovative programs like Vitality HealthyFood,” said Personnel Cabinet Secretary Tim Longmeyer. “Now our members can see how making nutritional choices at the grocery is great for them and their pocketbook.”

Recent research1 shows the struggle consumers face with purchasing healthier foods. In fact, one in four families report skipping healthy purchases often or always due to price.

“Price is an important factor in incentivizing wellness in America,” said John Agwunobi, M.D., president of health and wellness, Walmart U.S. “By offering affordable, healthier foods, we will help make our customers healthier and reduce costs to our healthcare system as a whole. This represents preventative care in its purest form.”

HumanaVitality CEO Joe Woods sees KEHP as a great example for other employers seeking innovative paths to better employee health.

“The Commonwealth has become a national leader in inspiring healthy behavior through its LivingWell program and now through Vitality HealthyFood,” said Woods. “Helping people make healthier choices in their daily lives is how we're going to solve the healthcare cost crisis in this country. Unique collaborations such as this, among employers, health companies and retailers, are the key to making that happen.”

Participation in Vitality HealthyFood

The Vitality HealthyFood program is available at Walmart stores. After logging in to HumanaVitality at LivingWell.ky.gov and taking a brief HumanaVitality Health Assessment, KEHP members 18 years old or older will receive their Vitality HealthyFood card in the mail. When members go to Walmart for their grocery shopping, their five percent savings on select Great For You products will be loaded as credits to the Vitality HealthyFood card within seven business days for use on their next trip to Walmart.