Key takeaways

  • While Original Medicare (parts A and B) typically doesn’t cover grocery expenses, certain Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, like Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) and Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), may offer a grocery allowance to help manage chronic conditions through healthy eating.
  • Eligibility for a grocery allowance through Medicare Advantage plans often depends on enrollment in one of these plans. Benefits are provided via a preloaded card for use at select grocery stores.
  • Beyond grocery allowances, some Medicare Advantage plans provide temporary meal benefits following a hospital discharge, delivering meals that align with Medicare’s nutritional guidelines and accommodate various dietary needs.

Certain Medicare programs and Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans offer a grocery allowance, or health foods benefit, as part of their “special supplemental benefits for chronically ill” category.

Read on to learn more about these plans, which can help you manage chronic conditions by supporting healthy nutrition.

You may be eligible for a grocery allowance if you enroll in certain Medicare plans and programs. These are:

Chronic condition special needs plan (C-SNP)

These Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans offer additional benefits tailored to managing certain chronic conditions. Some C-SNPs include help with grocery expenses as part of their broader health management services.

You may be eligible for a C-SNP if you live with:

  • alcohol or substance use disorder
  • certain autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus
  • cancer
  • certain cardiovascular disorders, including cardiac arrhythmias and coronary artery disease
  • heart failure
  • dementia
  • diabetes
  • end stage liver disease
  • end stage renal disease requiring dialysis
  • certain blood disorders, including hemophilia and sickle cell disease
  • HIV
  • certain lung disorders, including asthma and emphysema
  • certain mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
  • certain neurologic disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease
  • stroke

Dual special needs plan (D-SNP)

D-SNP is a type of Medicare Advantage plan. Some D-SNPs offer a grocery allowance, meal assistance, and other supplemental benefits.

If you’re eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, you may be able to enroll in a D-SNP. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that supports people with limited resources. Eligibility varies from state to state. You can check if you qualify.

Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

PACE combines Medicare and Medicaid benefits for people ages 55 years or older who meet specific health and income criteria.

PACE programs provide a wide range of services to help older adults remain at home instead of transitioning to a nursing home. This might include a grocery allowance and home-delivered meals.

To find out whether you’re eligible and if there’s a PACE program near you, search for PACE plans in your area or contact your state Medicaid office.

C-SNP and D-SNP enrollees usually receive a Medicare Advantage food allowance card. This is usually a prepaid debit card, different from the Medicare Flex card.

What you can buy with this card will vary from plan to plan, but generally, you should be able to use it to purchase food at certain grocery stores. This prepaid debit card differs from a Medicare Flex card, which can be used only for certain health and wellness expenses.

It’s important to check with your plan provider to confirm which retailers accept the Medicare Advantage food allowance card and which items you can purchase with it. Your plan provider can supply a predetermined list of covered food items.

The Medicare Advantage food allowance benefit is usually “use it or lose it,” meaning the funds will not roll over from month to month.

For PACE participants, food benefits are part of the overall care plan. This might include direct assistance with grocery shopping, meal vouchers, or home-delivered meals.

How much money do you get for the Medicare grocery allowance?

The allowance amount varies by plan. For instance, Humana’s SNP plans provide between $300 and $2,700 per year. Whether you can carry over unused funds to the next year also depends on the plan.

In order to enroll in a Part C plan that offers a grocery allowance, you first need to enroll in Original Medicare (parts A and B). Once you’re enrolled, you can then switch over to a Part C plan.

These plans generally offer the same coverage, along with some additional benefits in many cases, like vision or dental insurance. That said, not every location will offer a C-SNP or a D-SNP plan, so you’ll need to enter your zip code on Medicare.gov to verify your options.

Once you select your plan, you can enroll in one of the qualifying enrollment periods. You may need to verify your eligibility directly with the insurer.

To qualify for PACE, you must be of qualifying age, live in a PACE service area, be certified as needing nursing home–level care, and be able to live safely in the community with PACE support. Just be aware that you can’t be enrolled in Medicare Advantage, Part D, hospice, or certain other programs at the same time.

If you’re eligible, you must share medical and personal information for an assessment and sign an enrollment agreement.

Some Medicare Advantage plans offer temporary meal benefits after you’ve been discharged from a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or other inpatient healthcare facility. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 65% of Medicare Advantage plans in 2025 included meal benefits such as meal delivery.

That said, you may be limited to a select number of meals within a set time frame. If you have a chronic condition, your healthcare professional may be able to order or prescribe temporary meal benefits without an inpatient stay.

Most plans require meals to be aligned with Medicare’s daily nutritional guidelines. You can usually receive meals tailored to dietary restrictions, such as vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free.

Meals are usually delivered ready to eat, without any additional ingredients or preparation. Depending on your service area, meals may arrive hot, ready to refrigerate, or frozen.

Grocery allowances are designed to help people with chronic health conditions or disabilities pay for nutritious food.

Some Medicare Advantage plans also offer temporary meal delivery to aid your recovery after an inpatient stay or as part of your care plan for certain chronic conditions.