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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Institute Debut Nutrition Delivery Service in Dallas Food Deserts

Driven by BCBSTX community health investments and managed through the BCBS Institute, foodQ offers nutritious, affordable meal delivery in communities

RICHARDSON, Texas – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) and the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) InstituteSM today announced the debut of foodQSM, a healthy food delivery service that brings nutritious, affordable meals directly to people living in areas that lack adequate access to fresh foods which make up a healthy diet, known as food deserts. Through the foodQ service, the companies offer consumers easy access to affordable, nutritious foods to improve their health outcomes, particularly for diet-related, chronic conditions, while reducing avoidable emergency room visits and hospital admissions.

BCBSTX supported the BCBS Institute’s development of foodQ through its community health investments aimed at dramatically improving the lives of people by removing barriers and advancing social factors that impact their health and well-being. Nutrition is a social determinant of health and one of the company’s community health focus areas. The BCBS Institute debuted foodQ in 15 Dallas ZIP codes where BCBSTX operates health plans. Any consumer living in these ZIP codes can participate, regardless of health insurance status or insurance carrier. foodQ was also introduced in 27 Chicago ZIP codes.  

“Living in a food desert is one of the key social determinants of health impacting millions of Americans,” said Manika Turnbull, vice president, and community health and economic impact officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. “With this program we are meeting people where they live to provide access, affordable pricing and education that can influence healthy behaviors, reduce health disparities and improve their quality of life.”

Consumers residing in ZIP codes associated with the foodQ service can go to the mobile-optimized foodQ website and review the ready-to-heat lunch and dinner meal options. Participants enter their ZIP code in the foodQ site, which determines if they are eligible for the service. Once eligibility is verified, participants enter their payment information, select their meal choice, then choose a date and time for meal delivery. Users select from five meal categories including beef, chicken, fish, pork and vegetarian options. Participants then receive a text message confirming the order, as well as notifications when the order is on its way and has been delivered.

Participants are encouraged to subscribe to foodQ for $10 per month, which includes free delivery and a buy-one-get-one option for every meal purchased. Individuals who do not subscribe can choose to purchase individual meals for $10 with an additional delivery fee of $6 per order. Meal deliveries began in Chicago in January and in Dallas in July.

BCBSTX and the BCBS Institute share a commitment to improve health outcomes and remove barriers to healthy living. The BCBS Institute created the mobile-optimized foodQ website, identified neighborhoods that qualified as food deserts and established relationships with Kitchfix in Chicago and Front Porch Pantry in Dallas to prepare and deliver meals. The BCBS Institute tailored foodQ to the community’s needs using its detailed data by ZIP code on the social and environmental factors influencing health.

BCBSTX and the BCBS Institute will use participant surveys to measure the demand for and usability of the foodQ service and assess any correlation between nutritious meal consumption and avoidable hospital and emergency room visits.

For more information about foodQ, including food menus, please visit the foodQ website.

The foodQ service is available in these 15 ZIP codes on the South Side and East Side of Dallas:   

75204 75206 75210
75214 75215 75216
75217 75220 75223
75226 75227 75228
75231 75243 75246

 

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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) – the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas – is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 80,000 physicians and healthcare practitioners, and 500 hospitals to serve more than 5 million members in all 254 counties.

BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico), the country’s largest customer- owned health insurer, and fourth largest health insurer overall. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield Institute
The BCBS Institute, an Illinois benefit corporation, is a subsidiary and independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. BCBS Institute and BCBSA do not provide medical, nutritional, or legal services or advice. foodQ is a trademark of BCBSA. All foodQ meal preparation and delivery services are provided by independent third-party providers. BCBS Institute, BCBSA and Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plans do not prepare or deliver meals, or promote, recommend, endorse, warrant or guarantee any program, product or service provided by any third-party provider in connection with foodQ. BCBS Institute, BCBSA and Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plans are not responsible for damages or injuries arising from or related to such third-party provided programs, products or services. Terms and conditions for foodQ are found at foodQhub.com. Learn more about the BCBS Institute.

Media Contact

Chris Callahan
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
972-766-7575
Chris_Callahan@bcbstx.com



A Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association