Keeping up with doctor’s appointments is essential to managing health and staying informed, but it can often feel overwhelming. From scheduling and transportation to understanding medical advice and ensuring proper follow-up, there are many details to manage. This is where Understood Care can help. Our advocates serve as trusted guides, working alongside you or your loved one to make the process easier, more organized, and more comfortable.
Personalized Support Before and After Every Appointment
Understood Care advocates provide hands-on help with all aspects of medical visits. We help you schedule appointments, confirm provider information, and prepare for the visit itself. This might include reviewing your questions ahead of time, making sure prescriptions are current, or gathering any medical records needed. After the appointment, we help you understand the doctor’s recommendations and take the right steps to follow through on care instructions, referrals, or additional tests.
A Partner to Help You Understand Your Care
Medical visits can involve unfamiliar language, new diagnoses, or complex treatment plans. Your advocate is there to help translate this information into clear, understandable terms. We make sure you feel confident about what was discussed during the visit and that you know what actions to take next. If something is unclear or left unanswered, your advocate can follow up with your provider to get the information you need.
Coordination Across Your Care Team
Many people receive care from more than one doctor. Your advocate helps ensure that your care is well coordinated across primary care providers, specialists, and other professionals. We help share information between offices, keep records consistent, and make sure appointments align with your overall care goals. This reduces confusion and helps prevent important details from being overlooked.
Support for Getting to and From the Appointment
Transportation should never be the reason you miss a doctor’s visit. Your advocate helps you arrange reliable ways to get to and from appointments. Whether that means booking a ride service, coordinating with a caregiver, or finding community transportation resources, we make sure you have safe and timely access to care. We also consider mobility needs, language assistance, and other accessibility factors to support your comfort and safety.
Emotional and Practical Support Throughout
Doctor’s visits can bring up feelings of stress, uncertainty, or fatigue, especially when managing long-term conditions or complex health needs. Understood Care advocates are here to offer steady support throughout the experience. We are here to listen, provide encouragement, and help you make informed decisions without feeling overwhelmed.
Confidence in Every Step of the Journey
With Understood Care, you are never alone in managing your medical appointments. From the moment you schedule your visit to the follow-up that comes afterward, your advocate is there to help you stay organized, prepared, and empowered. We make it easier to stay connected to the care you need and to move forward with confidence.
Content
- What Medicare grocery allowances are and where they come from
- Why food and nutrition benefits matter for people with Medicare
- How Medicare grocery allowances interact with SNAP benefits
- How Medicare grocery allowances interact with other food benefits
- Practical tips to coordinate your grocery allowance, SNAP, and other support
- When to ask for help and how advocates can support you
- FAQ: Medicare grocery allowances, SNAP, and other food benefits
- References
What Medicare grocery allowances are and where they come from
Medicare Advantage and supplemental benefits
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is federal health insurance that covers hospital and medical care. It does not include routine grocery or food benefits.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are offered by private companies that contract with Medicare. These plans must cover at least the same services as Original Medicare, but they are allowed to offer extra benefits. Examples include dental, vision, fitness programs, and other “supplemental benefits” that Original Medicare does not cover.
A Medicare grocery allowance is one of these extra benefits. It is not a separate federal program. It is a feature some Medicare Advantage plans choose to include.
Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill and healthy food benefits
Since 2019, Medicare Advantage plans have had new flexibility to offer “Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill” (SSBCI). These benefits can include items that are not strictly medical, as long as they are expected to improve or maintain the health or function of a chronically ill enrollee.
Federal guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) explains that food and produce to assist chronically ill enrollees in meeting nutritional needs may be covered as SSBCI. Plans may include items such as produce, frozen foods, and canned goods, while clearly excluding items like tobacco and alcohol.
In plain language, that is where “healthy food cards” or “grocery allowances” come from. They are Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits that a plan designs to support better nutrition for certain enrollees with chronic conditions.
How grocery allowances usually work in practice
Details vary by plan, but most Medicare grocery allowance benefits follow a pattern:
- You receive a special card, sometimes called a “flex card” or “healthy food card.”
- The card is loaded with a set dollar amount on a regular schedule, such as monthly or quarterly.
- You can use it at specific participating retailers, usually grocery stores, big box retailers, or some pharmacies.
- You can only buy approved items, often focused on food and sometimes select over the counter health products.
These cards are not cash. You cannot withdraw money from an ATM with them, and you generally cannot use them to pay rent, utilities, or other non approved expenses.
Not every Medicare Advantage plan offers a grocery allowance, and plans have different eligibility rules for who qualifies for this benefit.
Why food and nutrition benefits matter for people with Medicare
Food insecurity and chronic conditions in older adults
Food insecurity means not having consistent access to enough nutritionally adequate and safe food for an active, healthy life. For older adults, food insecurity has been rising over time and is linked to worse health outcomes.
Research in Medicare beneficiaries shows that food insecurity is associated with more chronic conditions, more functional limitations, and trade offs between buying food and paying for medical care.
In other words, if you are skipping meals, watering down food, or choosing cheaper, less nutritious options because of cost, it can make it harder to manage conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or lung disease.
How better nutrition supports health
Federal agencies such as the National Institute on Aging, Nutrition.gov, and MyPlate highlight that healthy eating in later life can help reduce disease risk, support muscle strength, and improve overall well being.
Nutrition programs for older adults, including federal food assistance programs, are designed to help people age 60 and older get more consistent access to healthy foods that align with these recommendations.
Medicare grocery allowances and SNAP benefits both fit into this larger picture: they are tools to help you afford the food that supports your health.
How Medicare grocery allowances interact with SNAP benefits
Quick overview of SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the main federal program that provides monthly food benefits to people with low income. Benefits are issued on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card and are used to buy food at authorized retailers.
Most households must meet income and resource limits to qualify. There are special rules for households with older adults or people with disabilities that can make it easier to qualify or receive a higher benefit.
Do Medicare grocery allowances count as income for SNAP?
This is the central question for many people: will a Medicare healthy food or grocery allowance reduce my SNAP benefits?
In December 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which runs SNAP, issued clear national guidance for state SNAP agencies. That guidance explains that:
- Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits are benefits for items and services that have a health connection and are not available under Medicare Parts A, B, or D.
- These supplemental benefits can be administered through spending cards for specific items such as food, transportation, utilities, and other health related supports.
- State agencies must exclude all Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits when determining income for SNAP purposes.
The memo clarifies that these Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits are treated as medical reimbursements that do not represent a gain or benefit to the household, and therefore they must not be counted as income under SNAP rules.
That means:
- A Medicare grocery allowance or healthy food card that is offered as a supplemental benefit by your Medicare Advantage plan should not be treated as income for SNAP.
- It should not, by itself, lower your SNAP benefit amount or make you ineligible for SNAP.
Reporting rules and what to tell your SNAP worker
Even though these benefits are excluded from income, it is still important to answer all questions on SNAP applications and recertifications honestly.
Practical steps:
- If the SNAP application asks about “other income” or “cash assistance,” you can explain that your Medicare grocery allowance is a restricted health plan benefit, not cash income.
- If your caseworker seems unsure, you can mention that USDA has instructed states to exclude all Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits from SNAP income calculations and ask if they are familiar with that guidance.
- Keep a copy of any letters from your plan that describe the benefit as a Medicare Advantage supplemental or SSBCI benefit. These can help show that the card is limited to health related items like groceries.
If a SNAP worker still counts the grocery allowance as income and reduces your benefits, you can request that they review the decision. Local legal aid or senior services agencies may also be able to help you appeal.
Spending rules: grocery card versus EBT card
Even though Medicare grocery allowances and SNAP both help you buy food, they are separate programs with separate cards:
- SNAP benefits are loaded onto an EBT card and can be used only for food items allowed under SNAP at participating retailers.
- Medicare grocery allowances are loaded onto a health plan card that can be used only for specific items and retailers chosen by your plan and approved by CMS as supplemental benefits.
In many stores, you can use more than one form of payment. For example, you may be able to pay first with your health plan’s grocery allowance card, then use SNAP for any remaining eligible food items, and then pay cash or another method for anything that is not allowed by either program. Store policies vary, so it is helpful to ask a cashier or customer service if you are unsure.
How Medicare grocery allowances interact with other food benefits
Many older adults combine SNAP, Medicare Advantage grocery allowances, and other federal or community food programs.
Senior food boxes and commodity programs
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), sometimes called the “Senior Food Box” program, provides a monthly package of USDA foods to older adults with low income, usually age 60 or older.
CSFP is designed to supplement your diet, not replace SNAP or other benefits. Program materials do not list Medicare Advantage grocery allowances as a reason to lose eligibility. Eligibility is based on age, income, and location, and in many cases you can participate in CSFP and SNAP at the same time.
A Medicare grocery allowance also does not usually affect your CSFP food package, because it is not treated as income and is limited to certain purchases.
Senior farmers market and other USDA programs
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides coupons or benefits that older adults with low income can use to buy fruits, vegetables, herbs, and sometimes honey from local farmers.
USDA describes multiple nutrition programs for older adults, including CSFP, senior farmers markets, and others, all focused on improving access to nutritious food.
These programs typically have their own eligibility rules and do not list Medicare supplemental benefits as disqualifying. In many cases, you can use these programs alongside SNAP and a Medicare grocery allowance.
Community meal programs and emergency food
Other common supports include:
- Congregate meal sites and home delivered meals funded by the Older Americans Act
- Local food pantries
- State or local emergency food programs
For example, state aging agencies describe meal programs that offer congregate and home delivered meals to help older adults stay healthy and connected.
These programs generally do not treat a Medicare grocery allowance as income. They may look at your overall income, but a restricted health plan food benefit normally does not count as cash you can spend on anything.
Because local rules differ, it is always a good idea to ask your local agency or program directly if you are worried that a new health plan benefit might affect your eligibility.
Practical tips to coordinate your grocery allowance, SNAP, and other support
If you already have SNAP
If you are already receiving SNAP and your Medicare Advantage plan adds a grocery allowance:
- Keep your benefit letters and plan materials. These show that the card is a Medicare supplemental benefit for health related items.
- At your next SNAP recertification, answer all questions truthfully and explain that this is a restricted health benefit, not cash income.
- If your SNAP amount changes, ask why. If the grocery allowance was incorrectly counted as income, you can request a correction, pointing to USDA guidance that Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits must be excluded.
If you are applying for SNAP or other food benefits
Many older adults who qualify for SNAP never apply. Federal aging and nutrition resources note that a large share of eligible older adults miss out on SNAP because of myths or confusion about the program.
If you are applying for SNAP or a senior food program:
- Use official information from USDA or your state when checking eligibility, rather than only word of mouth.
- List your regular income accurately, such as Social Security, pensions, or wages.
- When you describe your Medicare Advantage plan, you can mention that it includes a healthy food or grocery allowance that is a health related supplemental benefit.
- Ask directly whether that benefit will be counted. If the worker is unsure, you can ask them to review the USDA SNAP policy memo about Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits.
For other programs like CSFP or senior farmers market benefits, staff can tell you whether participation in SNAP or use of a Medicare grocery allowance affects eligibility. In most cases, these programs are designed to layer together to reduce food insecurity, not to replace each other.
Questions to ask your health plan
Because grocery allowance rules differ between plans, it helps to call the phone number on your plan card and ask:
- Do I have a grocery, healthy food, or flex card benefit?
- How much is loaded on the card and how often?
- What foods and products can I buy with it?
- Where can I shop with the card?
- Does my benefit count as a Special Supplemental Benefit for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) or another supplemental benefit approved by Medicare?
Knowing the answers can help you and your SNAP worker understand how this benefit fits into the bigger picture of your food and health supports.
When to ask for help and how advocates can support you
Coordinating health insurance benefits, SNAP, and other food programs can feel overwhelming, especially if you are also managing several chronic conditions.
You do not have to do this alone. You can:
- Talk with your local Area Agency on Aging, senior center, or disability resource center about SNAP and senior food programs.
- Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free help understanding Medicare Advantage benefits, including grocery allowances.
- Work with a care advocate who can help you organize paperwork, prepare for calls with your health plan or SNAP office, and keep track of renewals. Understood Care offers services like Application Help, Analyze Bills, and Lower Costs of Medication that can support this kind of coordination.
If your benefits change and you are not sure why, or if you are worried about losing food support after enrolling in a new Medicare Advantage plan, reaching out early can prevent surprises later.
FAQ: Medicare grocery allowances, SNAP, and other food benefits
- What is a Medicare grocery allowance?
A Medicare grocery allowance is an extra benefit that some Medicare Advantage plans offer. It usually works as a health plan card that can be used for approved foods at participating retailers. It is not part of Original Medicare and not everyone with Medicare has this benefit. - Does Medicare itself offer a grocery allowance?
No. Original Medicare does not have a grocery or food allowance. Only certain Medicare Advantage plans choose to include healthy food or grocery benefits as supplemental benefits. - Will my Medicare grocery allowance lower my SNAP food stamp benefits?
Under current federal guidance, Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits, including grocery or healthy food cards, must be excluded from income when states calculate SNAP eligibility and benefit amounts. That means your grocery allowance should not by itself reduce your SNAP benefits, although other changes in your income or household can. - Do I have to report my Medicare grocery allowance to SNAP?
You should always answer questions on SNAP forms honestly. If asked about other benefits, you can explain that your card is a limited health plan benefit, not cash income. If your state tries to count it as income, you can ask them to review the USDA policy on Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits. - Can I use my Medicare grocery allowance and SNAP at the same store?
Often yes. Many retailers accept both SNAP EBT cards and Medicare Advantage grocery or healthy food cards. You may be able to use the health plan card first for approved items, then use SNAP for remaining eligible foods. Store policies can differ, so ask a cashier or customer service staff for help. - What can I buy with a Medicare grocery allowance card?
That depends on your plan. Some cards can only be used for healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and certain pantry items. Others may also cover select over the counter medicines. Alcohol and tobacco are not allowed. Your plan’s benefit materials will list what is covered. - How do I find out if my Medicare Advantage plan includes a grocery benefit?
Check your plan’s Summary of Benefits or Evidence of Coverage, or call the member services number on your plan card. Look for terms like “healthy food benefit,” “grocery allowance,” “nutrition benefit,” or SSBCI. - Can I get a Medicare grocery allowance if I have Original Medicare and a Medigap policy?
No. Medigap policies do not offer these kinds of supplemental benefits. Grocery allowances are found in some Medicare Advantage plans, which are an alternative way of getting your Medicare coverage. - Does a Medicare grocery allowance affect WIC, senior food boxes, or other food programs?
For most programs, eligibility is based on your income and age, not on whether your Medicare Advantage plan gives you a restricted grocery benefit. Programs like the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and senior farmers markets are designed to supplement the diets of low income older adults and generally can be used alongside SNAP and health plan benefits. Still, you should confirm with each program. - Where can I get help comparing plans and applying for SNAP and other food benefits?
You can contact your local Area Agency on Aging, State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or community organizations that specialize in benefits counseling. You can also work with an advocate, such as Understood Care’s Application Help or Analyze Bills services, to prepare paperwork and talk with agencies on your behalf.
References
- Medicare.gov. Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans (CMS Product No. 12026).
https://www.medicare.gov/publications/12026-understanding-medicare-advantage-plans.pdf - Medicare.gov. How does Medicare work.
https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/medicare-basics/how-does-medicare-work - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Implementing Supplemental Benefits for Chronically Ill Enrollees (SSBCI HPMS Memo, April 24, 2019).
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-plans/healthplansgeninfo/downloads/supplemental_benefits_chronically_ill_hpms_042419.pdf - Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Medicare Advantage Health Plans (Food Is Medicine Federal Resource Hub).
https://odphp.health.gov/foodismedicine/federal-resource-hub/medicare-advantage-health-plans - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP - Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Excluded from Income (Policy Memo, December 5, 2024).
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/medicare-advantage-supplemental-benefits-excluded-income - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Special Rules for the Elderly or Disabled.
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligibility/elderly-disabled-special-rules - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. Assistance for Older Adults.
https://www.fns.usda.gov/olderadults - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
https://www.fns.usda.gov/csfp/commodity-supplemental-food-program - Nutrition.gov. Older Adults.
https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/nutrition-life-stage/older-adults - MyPlate.gov. Nutrition Information for Older Adults.
https://www.myplate.gov/life-stages/older-adults - National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health. Families with older adults have less access to nutritious, safe food.
https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/families-older-adults-have-less-access-nutritious-safe-food - JAMA Internal Medicine. Risk Factors Associated With Food Insecurity in the Medicare Population.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2751945 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Food Insecurity: A Key Social Determinant of Health for Older Adults.
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/83039/cdc_83039_DS1.pdf - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Food Insecurity Data Dictionary.
https://data.cms.gov/resources/food-insecurity-data-dictionary - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. Nutrition Programs for Seniors.
https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/food-security-and-access/food-assistance-programs/nutrition-programs-seniors - Administration for Community Living. Finding Food for Older Adults (Tip Sheet).
https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/nutrition/FindingFoodForOATipSheet.pdf - Understood Care. Application Help.
https://understoodcare.com/care-types/application-help - Understood Care. Analyze Bills.
https://understoodcare.com/care-types/analyze-bills - Understood Care. Lower Costs of Medication.
https://understoodcare.com/care-types/lower-costs-of-medication
Deborah Hall
- About: Deborah Hall’s primary specialty is other healthcare benefits access. She helps people apply for coverage, clears questions, and connects them to programs fast.
Want a patient advocate by your side?
Quick & Easy
Meet a supporting physician today for your 20-minute intake session.
Personal Support
At Understood Care, you're seen, heard, and cared for.
