This article details eligibility and card considerations for the Florida Blue Foodsmart Food as Pharmacy Card SSBCI benefit program.
This benefit is only available on the BlueMedicare Premier (HMO) H1035-043 plan for eligible members.
About the card
The Foodsmart Food as Pharmacy card is mailed directly to Florida Blue members who meet the Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) extra services criteria. Cardholders will receive a $20 monthly allowance to purchase healthy food items at The Village Grown or any grocer that accepts Visa.
To trigger the food card subsidy, members need to have met the following criteria:
- Complete a health risk assessment (HRA) with Florida Blue
- Have a claim triggered with a diagnosis code from your doctor
Eligibility will be identified by receipt of a provider-submitted institutional or professional claim that includes diagnostic codes indicating the member has one or a combination of the following chronic conditions:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Diabetes
Upon validation that all eligibility criteria have been met, the Foodsmart support team will issue a food card. The food card will arrive via physical mail to the name and address on file with Florida Blue at the time of eligibility. If you were previously issued a food card and your benefits were reset, your existing card will be reactivated upon re-qualification. Members will be notified of card reactivation via email.
Please note, Florida Blue program benefits do not roll over year to year. At the start of a new year, members will need to qualify for the food card benefit.
How to use the card
The card does not require activation. It will arrive ready to use for your convenience, so keep it in a safe place.
The $20 monthly allowance will be loaded onto a Visa card at the beginning of each month. This $20 monthly allowance is for the purchase of healthy food items at The Village Grown or any grocer that accepts Visa.
When using the card, your total bill must not exceed $20 or the transaction will decline. If your grocery bill is more than $20, ask the cashier to enter in a partial payment for $20, then use your Florida Blue food card. The remaining bill can then be paid with other forms of accepted payment.
Any unused funds will not roll over month to month. These funds can only be used on grocery items and cannot be used to purchase any alcohol, tobacco, firearms, or non-food items.
What if
Q: What if I lose my card?
A: Contact support@foodsmart.com. Our support team will deactivate the lost card and issue you a new card. Shipping may take 1-2 weeks to arrive via standard mail. You can also call us at 415-800-2311.
Q: What if I need to check my balance?
A: Contact support@foodsmart.com. Our support team will check your card activity and then inform you of the remaining monthly balance. You can also call us at 415-800-2311.
Q: What if my card is declined?
A: Verify that the tendered amount matches your available card balance. If your bill is more than the amount in your account, the card will decline. If you're unsure of your remaining balance, contact support@foodsmart.com before you go shopping, and our support team will check your month-to-date card activity and inform you of the remaining monthly balance. You can also call us at 415-800-2311.