Albertsons Cos. Expands Supplemental Health Benefits Partnerships
Albertsons Companies is expanding consumers’ access to fresh foods and private label products through a new partnership with global financial services technology leader FIS, which represents supplemental health benefits administrators including Fresh Connect, PayForward and WEX.
Albertsons Cos. is also entering into a partnership to accept benefit cards from Soda Health, which works to improve health equity by tailoring benefits based on individual needs. Customers with FIS and Soda Health-integrated benefit cards will now be able to make purchases on eligible food and health items at Albertsons Cos. banner stores including Safeway, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Shaw’s, Tom Thumb and ACME.
“Expanding our benefit card partnerships are essential in ensuring that our customers have access to the broadest selection of nutritious food, supplements and OTC medicine that improve their health and well-being,” said Omer Gajial, EVP of Pharmacy and Health at Albertsons Cos. “We are striving to be more than just a neighborhood grocery store; we want to build a deeper connection with our customers, support them in their wellness journey and address hunger in our most vulnerable communities.”
Health benefit cards are pre-paid debit cards that are funded by Medicare Advantage plans, employers, healthcare providers or local governments and can be used to make purchases on eligible over-the-counter medicine and wellness care products, as well as nutritious foods like produce, whole grains, fish and poultry. Customers eligible for SNAP and WIC benefits can also use their health benefit cards in conjunction with their EBT account.
Albertsons Cos. is continuing to partner with its current benefit card providers Solutran (S3), InComm (OTC Network) and Speak (formerly Speak Retail Group). Most national health plans such as Aetna, Humana, United Healthcare and Centene and many regional plans including Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna offer these benefits.
As of Dec. 3, 2022, Albertsons Cos. operated 2,270 retail food and drug stores with 1,720 pharmacies, 402 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers and 19 manufacturing facilities.