Minnetonka, MN (Sept 15, 2015) — When Medica introduced Healthy Savings, the idea behind the program was to make healthier food choices more affordable for Medica members. The program is now two years old and it continues to grow and bear fruit in a number of ways.

“We are very pleased with the momentum behind Healthy Savings as it continues to grow in value, convenience and usefulness for our members,” said Scott Reid, Medica vice president of product & operations. “While the benefits of a healthy diet are well known, one of the challenges is the cost associated with it. Healthy Savings makes good food more affordable for employees and their families – and that contributes to their overall health. And from the employer’s perspective, the program shows a strong commitment to the health and wellbeing of employees.”

Among the most tangible measures, Medica members have saved more than $550,000 on healthy foods and produce since the program launch. Part of the reason for that is that the program includes prominent labels such as Cheerios, Del Monte, Tyson, Yoplait, Green Giant, Kemps and 135 more trusted brands. In addition, the weekly discount card value is up 100 percent since the beginning of the program – it now features more than $100 each week in potential savings. And participating retailers now include Cub Foods, Lunds & Byerlys, Rainbow and Hornbacher’s, with plans for future expansion.

Medica also has added a fresh produce component to the program. Employers can fund a fresh produce benefit for their employees through this program by offering discounts on weekly fruits and vegetables purchases or cash-value rewards that can be applied toward fresh produce purchases. More information about the employer-sponsored fresh produce program is available here.

Healthy Savings participants also can save on fresh produce at nearly 30 Farmers Markets throughout the state. Each week, Medica members receive announcements on dates when participating Farmers Markets are offering the promotion. Members simply present their Healthy Savings card at the information booth to receive their $3 voucher that can be used toward any fresh produce purchase at the market. For more promotion details and a full list of participating markets members can visit the program website www.medica.com/healthysavings.

Medica continues to simplify the way its members use the program. A new mobile optimized website makes it easy for members to find the weekly promotions, organize their shopping list and receive instant savings without the need to clip coupons.

About Healthy Savings®

Healthy Savings™ is a program which enables health insurance members to save on healthier foods without having to clip, print, or download coupons. A technology called S3™ that was developed by Solutran, Inc. serves as the supporting substantiation platform behind the Healthy Savings™ program. More information is available at www.HealthySavings.com.

About Medica

Medica (www.medica.com) is a health services company headquartered in Minneapolis and active in the Upper Midwest. The organization is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2015. With approximately 1.5 million members, the non-profit company provides health care coverage in the employer, individual, Medicaid, Medicare and Medicare Part D markets in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Medica also offers national network coverage to employers who also have employees outside the Medica regional network.

Medica’s vision is to become the community’s health plan of choice, trusted for its integrity, respected for its service, and admired for its commitment to innovation and efficiency. Medica partners with the communities it serves in many ways, including the Medica Foundation, a nonprofit, charitable grant-making foundation. The Medica Foundation, which provided $1.4 million in grants in 2014, generally seeks to fund community-based programs and initiatives that can provide sustainable, measurable improvements in the availability, access and quality of healthcare.

Connect with Medica on Twitter @Medica4Me and Facebook at www.facebook.com/Medica4Me.

Contacts

Medica
Greg Bury, 952-992-8437
Greg.bury@medica.com