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Walmart has announced a new partnership with Medicare Advantage to help elderly Americans maximize their benefits.
Walmart, the largest grocery chain in the US, announced that Americans on Medicare Advantage care – a form of health insurance for over 65s provided by private insurers – will now be able to plug in their benefit card information to their online Walmart accounts.
This will allow shoppers to see which items sold by Walmart are eligible for coverage or discounts under their program.
Many Medicare Advantage programs offer supplemental benefits that cover wellness products or over-the-counter medications.
While the products covered varies by each individual plan, the types of items likely to be available include vitamins and weight management supplements.
Around two-thirds of Americans on Medicare Advantage programs don’t use their over-the-counter benefits, according to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.
This is largely because they are not aware of which products are covered by their plans.
Under the new Walmart program, consumers will see a ‘benefit program eligible’ icon appear over products that are covered by their specific plan.
Walmart has launched a new initiative it hopes will help its elderly shoppers
Products, including vitamins from leading brands, may be available under your plan.
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Food including fruit and vegetables may be reduced to encourage balanced diets.
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For those that prefer to shop in store, eligible products will show up with the same icon when scanned in the app.
A tracker will also be available in seniors’ Walmart account which shows how much of their benefits they have left to spend.
The pilot will allow users to ‘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,’ Walmart said in a statement.
‘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,’ Walmart’s Ralph Clare said of the initiative.
As part of the program Walmart is also launching a new platform for benefit providers, Walmart Everyday Health Signals.
The platform will allow providers such as Medicare Advantage programs to integrate directly with Walmart.
Together the pooled information will give ‘AI-enabled guidance that empowers participating customers to make health-conscious choices,’ Walmart wrote on its website.
However, critics have already hit out at Walmart’s use of AI in shopping basket scanners at its Sam’s Club warehouses.
Two-thirds of Americans on Medicare Advantage programs don’t use their full benefits
Consumers will see a ‘benefit program eligible’ icon appear over eligible products
The new technology allows customers to walk straight out of the store without going through a checkout.
The move is controversial because it uses a network of cameras and sensors to track shoppers and their carts.
In addition, the checkout-free experience requires all customers to use a smartphone and download the store’s app.
This could pose a challenge to older shoppers who may struggle with technology.
