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Miami Herald
29-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Walmart links healthcare with grocery shopping
Dive Brief: Walmart announced Wednesday new tools to help Medicare Advantage members find items that qualify for their over-the-counter can add their benefit cards to their virtual Walmart wallets to access a digital experience that includes a product badge and search filter to identify which items are eligible for benefits. When shopping in stores, the badge will appear when people scan eligible items' barcodes with the Walmart app. Walmart also rolled out Wednesday a new AI-powered digital platform called Everyday Health Signals that gives personalized nutrition guidance to Medicare Advantage members who opt in. Dive Insight: Walmart's latest rollout comes at a time when retailers are adding ways to make it easier for people to combine their healthcare benefits with grocery shopping. Walmart positioned the new tools as ways to help customers who participate in Medicare Advantage plans avoid wasting their OTC benefits, citing research from the Consumer Healthcare Products Association showing that nearly two-thirds of Medicare Advantage members don't use that component of their plans. The retailer is looking to tap into the billions of dollars worth of benefits Medicare Advantage members annually forfeit and encourage shoppers who might be using their benefits elsewhere to bring that spending to Walmart. Walmart said the rollout of the tools will launch with supplemental benefits provider NationsBenefits. The retailer's "benefits program eligible" badge appears on a wide variety of over-the-counter, food and wellness products such as meal replacement shakes, ground coffee, vitamins, and cold and flu medication. Customers can also access a tracker that lets them monitor their unused benefits. Walmart said the Everyday Health Signals platform can "enhance" the well-being of Medicare Advantage customers by providing information that can help them make healthier choices. By analyzing their Walmart purchases, the AI-powered tool can provide the customer with a nutrition analysis and shopping lists. Walmart said that it is expanding the Everyday Health Signals platform to additional health plans and benefits managers. The retailer noted in the announcement that it is in a prime position to help customers marry their health and wellness needs with shopping, given that the company has data on 145 million weekly customers online and in-store. "We saw an opportunity to streamline the health benefits shopping journey, make it easier for customers to discover eligible items and offer convenient pickup and delivery options that fit their busy schedule," Ralph Clare, Walmart U.S.'s senior vice president, health and wellness merchandising, said in a statement. Copyright 2025 Industry Dive. All rights reserved.
Business Wire
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Walmart Is Helping Medicare Advantage Customers Seamlessly Use Their Supplemental Health Benefits for Everyday Wellness Purchases
BENTONVILLE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walmart is transforming the healthcare shopping experience with new digital innovations to help customers maximize their Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits. For the first time in retail, select customers can easily identify plan-specific, benefits-eligible products while shopping on and the Walmart app. They can track their benefits spending in real time and check out with a mixed basket of healthy food, over the counter (OTC) products and general merchandise for same-day pickup or delivery in as soon as an hour. About two-thirds of Medicare Advantage members never use their OTC benefits, resulting in billions of dollars forfeited annually. 1 Walmart is leveraging its tech-powered, omnichannel capabilities to make it easier and more convenient for customers to use their benefits during weekly shopping trips, launching first with NationsBenefits. Here's how it works – Available now, millions of Medicare Advantage members can add benefit cards to their online Walmart account at unlocking a customized and easy-to-navigate digital experience. Customers will see a 'benefits program eligible' badge on a broad assortment of items like OTC, food and wellness products, which they can quickly add to their cart with one click. Customers can also filter search results to include benefits-eligible items, streamlining and simplifying the shopping journey. For those shopping in-store, benefits-eligible badging will show up when scanning items in the Walmart app. Customers will now see a benefits tracker showing them how much they have left to spend. 'Customers expect more from their shopping experience, and we continuously adapt to offer the most convenient and intuitive capabilities,' said Ralph Clare, senior vice president, health & wellness merchandising, Walmart U.S. 'We saw an opportunity to streamline the health benefits shopping journey, make it easier for customers to discover eligible items and offer convenient pickup and delivery options that fit their busy schedule. The enhanced shopping experience for health benefits is yet another example of how Walmart is helping customers save money and live better.' A first-of-its kind, AI-powered health platform Walmart continues to leverage AI to transform retail, today rolling out Everyday Health Signals, a new digital platform powered by AI that makes it easier for customers to eat healthier. In this first-of-its-kind offering, developed initially for health plans and benefit managers, customers can choose to opt in to connect their account and receive AI-driven insights to enhance their well-being. The platform was built by Walmart and is powered by a custom-built personalization engine, among other technologies. Half of Americans are trying to eat healthier, and research shows that a curated experience with healthier food options leads to better choices 2,3. Everyday Health Signals takes the guesswork out of healthy eating. Once customers opt in, the platform analyzes their retail history to deliver practical tips, like nutrition analysis and shopping lists. Walmart is kicking off this initiative for Medicare Advantage members with NationsBenefits, where eligible members can receive free, personalized guidance that aligns with their wellness goals. Walmart is expanding the platform to more health plans and benefits managers. 'By allowing customers the opportunity to make more informed choices with Walmart Everyday Health Signals, we're creating the opportunity for widespread health impact,' said Pravene Nath, MD, group director, consumer health and data solutions, Walmart U.S. 'We're innovating with tech-enabled health solutions that equip customers with a better understanding of how small decisions in the grocery aisle can help improve their overall health.' Everyday Health Signals is part of Walmart's ongoing investment in technology that empowers customers to make informed health decisions. By delivering data-driven insights from retail shopping habits, the platform creates an easier way for people to prioritize wellness in their daily lives. These data-driven insights are generated only when customers elect to participate. With 145 million weekly customers shopping in-store and online, Walmart is in a unique position to help customers address their health and wellness needs in one-stop. Walmart customers shop for fresh food, an affordable assortment of wellness and OTC supplies and household essentials, plus have their prescriptions delivered directly to their doorstep. As customers continue to prioritize convenience, accessibility and value, Walmart will keep showing up, helping them to make strategic health decisions and leveraging technology to simplify the shopping experience. About Walmart Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better — anytime and anywhere — in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 270 million customers and members visit more than 10,750 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2025 revenue of $681 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting on Facebook at on X (formerly known as Twitter) at and on LinkedIn at
