Latest news with #NationsBenefitsBenefitsMastercard®PrepaidCard
Business Wire
16 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
NationsBenefits and Tops Friendly Markets Partner to Advance Food as Medicine Access Across Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont
PLANTATION, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NationsBenefits®, a leading provider of supplemental-benefit and healthcare-fintech solutions, today announced a new retail integration with Tops Friendly Markets, the neighborhood grocer that operates 147 full-service supermarkets across Upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Through this partnership, health plan members can immediately use their NationsBenefits Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card* at all Tops locations to purchase fresh produce, pantry staples, and over-the-counter wellness essentials with each transaction validated in real time by NationsBenefits' Basket Adjudication Service (BAS). 'For more than 60 years, Tops Friendly Markets has anchored community health,' said Michael Parker, Co‑CEO of NationsBenefits. 'Integrating their stores into our supplemental‑benefit network brings healthier, benefits‑eligible foods within easy reach..." Share 'For more than sixty years, Tops Friendly Markets has anchored community health,' said Michael Parker, Co-CEO of NationsBenefits. 'Integrating their stores into our supplemental-benefit network brings healthier, benefits-eligible foods within easy reach of families who once faced long drives or limited choices.' Food insecurity remains a critical challenge, with nearly one in four New York adults, particularly in rural counties, lacking reliable access to nutritious food. Nationwide, nearly 19 million Americans live in low-income, low-access census tracts, often more than ten miles from the nearest supermarket, while diabetes rates run up to 17 percent higher in rural areas than in urban centers. By integrating our Basket Adjudication Service (BAS) at every Tops checkout, NationsBenefits transforms routine grocery trips into Food as Medicine opportunities, letting members redeem supplemental benefits on culturally familiar, locally sourced items. Our real-time basket-analytics engine captures each eligible transaction at checkout, delivering ZIP-code-level purchase insights that enable health plans to fine-tune benefits and launch precisely targeted community outreach. "Feeding our neighborhoods well has always been at the heart of Tops," said Ron Ferri, President of Tops Friendly Markets. "By joining the NationsBenefits retail network, we can now place affordable, nutritious options directly in front of eligible shoppers at the very moment they fill their baskets." Tops remains focused on delivering an exceptional experience rooted in fresh, high-quality products and services, and innovative programs. With a continued focus on meeting customers where they are, the company is helping support healthier lifestyles, simplify shopping, and make every trip to the store more rewarding. 'Tops Friendly Markets has been ensuring access to high quality fresh foods and cutting-edge Pharmacy services to generations of customers,' said Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN, FAND, manager of lifestyle and wellness for Tops. 'We strive to innovate and explore how we can best serve shoppers seeking wellness options, with a spotlight on natural, organic and gluten free items, partnerships with local produce farmers, and now, direct access to insurance benefits that empower healthy purchases.' Peer-reviewed research shows that medically tailored meals and broader Food as Medicine programs can cut annual hospitalizations by 47% while managing overall healthcare costs by 16%. Leveraging this proprietary BAS technology, health plans also gain real-world, transaction-level insights that illuminate nutrition gaps by geography or chronic-condition cohort, guide ZIP-code-specific preventive initiatives such as A1C screenings or dietitian consults, and power personalized rewards that reinforce healthy shopping habits, improve member experience and engagement. Together, we're transforming everyday grocery visits into measurable outcomes that improve the health and wellness of individuals. About NationsBenefits NationsBenefits® is a leading provider of supplemental benefits, fintech solutions, and outcome improvement solutions to the healthcare industry. NationsBenefits partners with managed care organizations to provide innovative healthcare, data analytics, gap closure, and fintech solutions aimed at driving growth, reducing costs, and delighting members. Combining its cutting-edge technology with targeted retailer partnerships, NationsBenefits empowers health plans to deliver impactful supplemental benefits to optimize member experiences and drive better health outcomes. By simplifying processes to make smarter choices and expanding access to benefits solutions, NationsBenefits aims to improve each of its members' quality of life through its revolutionary and comprehensive suite of offerings. To learn more, visit About Tops Friendly Markets Based in Williamsville, NY, Tops Markets currently operates 152 grocery stores in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, including one that is run by a franchisee. As the largest private, for-profit employer in Western New York, with over 14,000 associates, the company is dedicated to providing sustainably sourced, high-quality products, while helping its communities flourish via support for programs that eradicate hunger and disease, educate youth, and reduce environmental waste and energy consumption. For more information, visit
Business Wire
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
NationsBenefits® Integrates with Dollar General to Enable Greater Access to Healthy Food and Wellness Essentials for Millions of Healthcare Consumers Nationwide
PLANTATION, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NationsBenefits®, the leading supplemental benefits and healthcare fintech solutions provider, is proud to announce a new partnership with Dollar General, the largest discount retailer in the United States by store count. By integrating with Dollar General at more than 20,000 locations across the nation, the NationsBenefits' proprietary Basket Analyzer Service (BAS) will provide millions of health plan members with increased access to affordable and nutritious foods, over-the-counter (OTC) products, medications, and other eligible essential wellness items. 'Our partnership with NationsBenefits will provide increased and affordable access to numerous health and wellness products for our customers and their families.' The Basket Analyzer Service (BAS) technology is a cutting-edge platform designed to provide seamless, real-time adjudication of eligible items at the point of sale for millions of health plan members using their NationsBenefits Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card*. This innovative solution not only enhances the shopping experience by simplifying transactions for members but also ensures strict compliance with health plan guidelines, creating a streamlined and reliable system. 'According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), more than 19 million people in the U.S. live in USDA-defined food deserts, and for many of our members, Dollar General is the closest or most convenient store,' said Michael Parker, co-CEO of NationsBenefits. 'This integration significantly enhances our ability to support more customers across the country and geographically dispersed populations. By welcoming Dollar General into our retail network, we are enabling members to use their benefits in a way that fits their lifestyle and needs while empowering them to make healthier choices.' Dollar General's unique real estate footprint helps meet the needs of underserved communities as approximately 75 percent of Americans are within five miles of a DG, and approximately 80 percent of their locations serve communities with fewer than 20,000 residents. This partnership seeks to overcome barriers to access and affordability, advancing NationsBenefits' mission to address social determinants of health (SDoH), enhance population health, and achieve better outcomes for members. 'At Dollar General, we care about and are invested in the health of our communities,' said Emily Taylor, Dollar General's chief merchandising officer. 'Our partnership with NationsBenefits will provide increased and affordable access to numerous health and wellness products for our customers and their families.' By combining Dollar General's extensive retail footprint with NationsBenefits' innovative technology, this collaboration is poised to make a significant impact on social determinants of health, ensuring underserved populations have greater and affordable access to the resources to live healthier lives. About NationsBenefits NationsBenefits® is a leading provider of supplemental benefits and fintech solutions and outcomes to the healthcare industry. NationsBenefits partners with managed care organizations to provide innovative healthcare, data analytics, gap closure, and fintech solutions aimed at driving growth, reducing costs, and delighting members. Combining its cutting-edge technology with targeted retailer partnerships, NationsBenefits empowers health plans to deliver impactful supplemental benefits to optimize member experiences and drive better health outcomes. By simplifying processes to make smarter choices and expanding access to benefits solutions, NationsBenefits aims to improve each of its members' quality of life through its revolutionary and comprehensive suite of offerings. To learn more, visit *The Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. Card can be used for eligible expenses wherever Mastercard is accepted. Valid only in the U.S. No cash access.
