Cigna Healthcare launched a partnership with HelloFresh on Tuesday to develop entry to wholesome meals for these coated by their employer.
Bloomfield, Connecticut-based Cigna Healthcare is the well being advantages division of The Cigna Group. The insurer has about 19.5 million members. HelloFresh, primarily based in Berlin, Germany, is a wholesome meals firm that delivers meals and recipes to individuals’s properties.
By way of the brand new partnership, as much as 12 million members of Cigna’s employer clients will achieve entry to HelloFresh’s meals at a reduced fee. Workers can obtain e-gift playing cards, discounted meal equipment subscriptions or one-time meals field deliveries. Every supply contains pre-portioned substances and steps on make the meal. The members can obtain these choices with out a HelloFresh subscription.
“This partnership emphasizes the essential position that dwelling cooking performs in supporting shoppers’ general well being and well-being,” stated Adam Kalikow, senior vp and managing director of meal kits at HelloFresh U.S., in an announcement.
Along with supporting Cigna’s members, the insurer and HelloFresh are partnering by means of HelloFresh’s Meals with That means program. This system provides free meal kits to these battling meals insecurity in native communities.
Cigna selected HelloFresh as a associate as a result of it offers “entry to contemporary meals by means of completely different meals supply plans and value factors and likewise shares Cigna Healthcare’s dedication to creating a distinction in our communities,” stated Heather Dlugolenski, U.S. business technique officer for Cigna Healthcare, in an electronic mail. “By partnering with HelloFresh, we are able to deliver our purchasers discounted meal equipment choices to make healthful consuming straightforward, accessible, and inexpensive for his or her workers.”
There’s a necessity for extra inexpensive entry to wholesome meals, analysis reveals. In keeping with Cigna’s 2023 Vitality in America examine, about one in three U.S. employees reported dealing with meals insecurity throughout the earlier three months. As well as, about six in 10 People have a minimum of one persistent illness, in response to the CDC. Eating regimen-related persistent illnesses characterize about 20% of healthcare prices every year within the U.S.
“We’re seeing a larger push from organizations massive and small in the direction of well being fairness, taking social determinants of well being under consideration, to assist guarantee all individuals have the chance to realize optimum well being and reside with vitality,” Dlugolenski stated. “That is taking part in out in a concerted effort between employers and payers to construct equitable and inclusive advantages.”
In partnering with HelloFresh, Dlugolenski added that Cigna’s purpose is to “help the well being and vitality of America’s workforce and to make a distinction for communities in want.”
A number of different healthcare organizations are additionally making efforts to sort out meals insecurity, although they’ve completely different methods. Elevance Well being just lately employed a meals as medication director. Alignment Healthcare launched co-branded Medicare Benefit plans with Instacart. Highmark Well being has a pilot in West Virginia that provides eligible residents debit playing cards to buy wholesome meals at Greenback Basic shops. As well as, Kaiser Permanente made a $50 million dedication to meals and diet safety.
Photograph: fcafotodigital, Getty Pictures
Supply hyperlink
