Skip to main content
Shop Plans Learn more about our coverage options including health, Medicare, dental and vision options for you, your family or your employees. Get Started Individual & Family Medicare Employer Vision Dental International Travel Find Care FAQ Blog Members Stay on top of your health care with helpful member resources. Members Home Medicare Health Dental Vision Find Care Member Knowledge Center Member Forms Medicare Forms Library Make a Payment Federal Employees Student Blue Healthy Blue Providers Access tools, policies and the latest information to help you care for our members. Providers Home Network Participation Networks & Programs Claims, Appeals & Inquiries Prior Authorization Services & CPT codes Prescription Drug Search Forms and Documents Policies, Guidelines & Codes Provider News Provider FAQ Contact Us Employers Learn about our coverage options for small and large employers, and access tools and resources for your group. Employers Home Shop Employer Plans Employer Portal Support Member Forms & Resources Find Care Blog Agents Access the tools you need: rate quotes, applications, forms, the latest industry news, marketing materials and more. Agents Home Agent Services Check Eligibility Find Care Member Forms & Resources Medicare Forms Library
Contact Us
Español
Log In
I am ... Please select A member A provider An employer An agent
Log in to Agent Services
Log in to Employer Services Register for Employer Services I'm registered but need portal access
Username Forgot username? Continue to Log In Register for Blue Connect Need help? Learn how to log in.
Log in to Blue e Register for Blue e Log in to Dental Blue
Our Purpose Health through food

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.

Healthy eating improves health

More than 1.6 million North Carolinians, including one in five children, have limited access to nutritious food.1 This barrier can contribute to issues like heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease, driving up health care costs and deepening health disparities.2

To address this, we’re tackling food insecurity and chronic illnesses by making nutritious food more accessible and integrating Food is Medicine into care.

 

[Music]

[Screen text] Rev. Richard Joyner, Founder and Board Chair, Conetoe Family Life Center

[Rev. Richard Joyner, Founder and Board Chair, Conetoe Family Life Center]

Food is medicine is when we learn how to manage our chronic disease through these vegetables. 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, we stand synonymous. And that we want to see food is medicine in every corner, every place across North Carolina.

[Screen text] Merry Davis, Director, Health Through Food Signature Initiative

[Merry Davis, Director, Health Through Food Signature Initiative]

Blue Cross affirmed our commitment to improving health through food in North Carolina. For so long, health care had a certain box of tools, and when you add food to that toolbox, there's so much more that you can do.

Increasing food is medicine in health care practice, increasing access to healthy food in communities, and it's about equipping individuals with the information and the skills they need.

People are not just receiving food, but they're receiving that kind of deep care and social support.

[Screen text] Kasheta Jackson, VP of Communication Health, Eastern Carolina University

[Kasheta Jackson, VP of Communication Health, Eastern Carolina University] 

Some of us may live in food deserts and this was an opportunity to provide produce that can help reduce hypertension, diabetes, and congestive heart failure.

Having access to food truly is medicine because it affects your whole well-being.

[Screen text] Must be currently enrolled in an eligible Blue Cross NC health plan and meet certain eligibility requirements. Some plan exclusions may apply. For information regarding eligibility call NourishedRx at (844) 727-6670.

[Screen text] Kim, Blue Cross NC Member Since 2003 

[Kim, Blue Cross NC Member Since 2003]

Feed Your Health is a program that Blue Cross and Blue Shield North Carolina offers.

I learned how to cook all of these fresh foods that were delivered to my house.

It’s the best thing I ever, ever did.  

Like, wow.

[Screen text] Peter Skillern, CEO, Reinvestment Partners

[Peter Skillern, CEO, Reinvestment Partners]

The biggest obstacle to people eating healthy, according to surveys, is affordability. People have to be able to buy healthy foods. And that's the reason why our program provides that direct financial assistance for them to make their own choices about which foods best fit their needs.

Blue Cross is a leader not only in the state but nationally, pioneering food as medicine, both with operational support for nonprofits through pilots to determine which population needs to be served and through rigorous evaluation to determine what the health outcomes and financial savings are.

[Rev. Richard Joyner, Founder and Board Chair, Conetoe Family Life Center]

I cannot say enough about the support that that we get from Blue Cross to be able to feed 2500 families a week without people standing in line.

Blue Cross sees something in us. They see the soul of us.

This is our medicine.

[Screen text] Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Innovative approaches for a healthier future

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.
Combating Type 2 diabetes

Participants in Feed Your Health – a program for members with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes – experienced meaningful changes in overall well-being, including lower A1C levels, reduced food insecurity, and improved mental health.3 In addition to improved well-being, these changes may help lower health care costs.
Increasing access to healthy food and nutritionists

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.
Fueling students with fresh food

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.
Integrating Food is Medicine into care

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.
Hosting teaching kitchens

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.
Partnering with communities to make an impact

We're working with and supporting community members who share this mission. Explore how our collaborations are making an impact across the state.

Setting the table for a better future

At Blue Cross NC, we believe that food isn’t just fuel – it’s medicine that’s good for everyone.

Read More

Improving health through food

Learn how Blue Cross NC is working to transform health care by making nutritious foods more accessible across North Carolina.

Read More

Transforming diabetes care with food

Feed Your Health uses food as medicine to lower A1C levels and support healthy living with personalized meal plans and coaching.

Read More
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.

Discover How We're Putting Our Purpose To Work About Us Newsroom Blog Member Forms COVID-19 Transparency in Coverage Find Care Rights & Responsibilities Policies & Best Practices Privacy Policy Website User Agreement Fraud & Abuse Technical Information Contact Us Locations Careers

Disclosures:

  1. "Get the facts about hunger in North Carolina," Feeding America.

  2. "What is ‘food is medicine,’ really? Policy considerations on the road to Health Care Coverage," Health Affairs Journal.

  3. NourishRX (Feed Your Health program) data on percentages of members whose self-reported scores improved from start of program to week 16 (among members with baseline risk/need). Data as of September 30, 2025. NourishedRx. (2025, November). Feed Your Health Diabetes Third Quarter Business Review.

Blue Cross NC offers care management and wellness programs as a convenience to aid members in improving their health; results are not guaranteed. Blue Cross NC may contract with independent third-party vendors for the provision of certain aspects of our wellness programs and is not liable in any way for goods or services received from them. These vendors do not offer Blue Cross or Blue Shield products or services. Blue Cross NC reserves the right to discontinue or change our wellness programs at any time. These programs are educational in nature. They are intended to help members make informed decisions about their health and comply with their doctor's plan of care. Decisions regarding care should be made with the advice of a doctor.

Feed Your Health is offered by NourishedRx, an independent company providing nutritional services on behalf of Blue Cross NC. NourishedRx does not offer Blue Cross or Blue Shield products or services.

U48286, 9/25

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.

Information in other languages: Español   中文   Tiếng Việt   한국어   Français   العَرَبِيَّة   Hmoob   ру́сский   Tagalog   ગુજરાતી   ភាសាខ្មែរ   Deutsch   हिन्दी   ລາວ   日本語

© 2026 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. ®, SM Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. All other marks and names are property of their respective owners. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.