We're committed to improving health through food by working with our members, providers, and community partners to help people eat healthier, expand access to nutritious food, and grow Food is Medicine programs across North Carolina.
Today, one in seven North Carolinians – more than 1.6 million people, including one in five children – has limited access to nutritious food.1
This lack of access, combined with other barriers to good nutrition, can lead to diet-related conditions, like coronary heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.2 And these conditions, in turn, can lead to higher health care costs for all North Carolinians and significant health disparities.
By focusing on improving health through food, not only could we have a positive impact on community health and help prevent and manage chronic diseases, we could help make health care more affordable.
Results from our Feed Your Health program are helping to shape Food is Medicine interventions in the state. Designed for Blue Cross NC members with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes and at high risk of food insecurity, the program showed a reduction of $139 per member per month in total medical costs.3
To help improve community health and help lower health care costs, we're focusing on:
We're transforming the way healthy food reaches members and communities to improve access for all. That includes making visits with licensed nutritionists part of our health insurance plans in an effort to make North Carolinians healthier.
By supporting farm-to-school efforts, we're working to increase access to healthy, local food for students and promoting nutritious food through activities like school gardens.
We are offering hands-on cooking classes – led by registered dietitians – for people to learn new skills in the kitchen to help them prepare nutritious foods at home.
We are pioneering programs for our members and growing Food is Medicine partnerships across the state to help improve health and lower health care costs.
We're working with and supporting community members who share this mission. See how our collaborations are making an impact across the state.
What drives us
Our purpose at Blue Cross NC is to improve the health and well-being of our customers and communities. We won't stop until health care is better for all.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in its health programs and activities. Learn more about our non-discrimination policy and no-cost services available to you.
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