​Is the Medicare grocery allowance real? What it is, eligibility, and how to apply 

24/01/2025
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13:16
CSTYou have probably heard that Medicare has a grocery allowance, also known as a healthy food benefit. If you have heard, you will surely wonder if you are eligible or how you can apply for this benefit. Read on to find all the details about it.First, it should be noted that this benefit is part of the Medicare Advantage plan, or Part C. Neither of the Original Medicare plans-Parts A and B-include a grocery allowance. Furthermore, the allowance is part of a broader category called “special supplemental benefits for the chronically ill.”As its name indicates, the plan aims to help patients with chronic conditions supplement their diet. If you suffer from a chronic condition and have Medicare Advantage, you may be eligible for one of the food allowance plans.There are three Medicare grocery subsidy plans: the Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (C-SNP), the Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP), and the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).C-SNP is available to individuals who have conditions such as cancer, certain cardiovascular disorders, heart failure, dementia, diabetes, HIV, end-stage liver disease, end-stage renal disease, asthma, emphysema, and some mental or neurological health conditions.If you are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, you may also be eligible for D-SNP. Medicaid categories that include a grocery allowance are Full Medicaid, Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), QMB Plus, Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), SLMB Plus, among others.Finally, PACE combines Medicare and Medicaid benefits for individuals 55 years or older who meet income and health requirements. The program helps seniors stay at home rather than enroll in a nursing home and may include an allowance for groceries.Just as not all Medicare programs include benefits for healthy food, the programs that do include them change from year to year and may eliminate that benefit in future updates.If you want to know if you are eligible, consult with a Medicare attorney to help you get the benefits to which you are entitled.