Free grocery delivery and a stipend for healthy youth activities help members save time and money this year
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Jan. 29, 2025 — Aetna Better Health® of Illinois, a CVS Health® company (NYSE: CVS), has added three new lifestyle benefits for its Medicaid members enrolled through the HealthChoice Illinois program to help make healthy lifestyle choices more accessible. Aetna Better Health of Illinois members can now receive free grocery delivery, free items to help manage behavioral health and a yearly stipend for young children and adults to participate in healthy activities or programming.
By adding the following new benefits, Aetna Better Health of Illinois aims to eliminate barriers to achieving better physical and mental health and make it easier for members to reach their goals.
Free grocery delivery: Eligible members ages 18 and older can get monthly subscription fees covered for certain grocery delivery apps.
Free behavioral health wellness support: Eligible members can get a Calming Comfort box with items to help manage behavioral health.
Free healthy activities for kids and young adults: Eligible members ages 5 – 21 can get an annual stipend for healthy activities and/or programming.
Food insecurity is a top concern for many Aetna Better Health of Illinois members, forcing them to rely on costly food delivery services to access fresh fruits and vegetables. The average American spends approximately 38 hours annually grocery shopping and Illinoisans spend about $1,317 a year on grocery delivery, according to a recent study. In addition, U.S. parents with kids in extracurricular activities spend an annual average of $731 per child on these activities. The new benefits help eliminate the barriers to home delivery and healthy activities.
“We cultivate our value-added benefits with care to provide tailored approaches to our members’ unique needs,” said Rushil Desai, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Illinois. “These new enhanced benefits get groceries delivered to their home, support mental health and increase physical activity for children and young adults. The benefits help save time and money, which in turn helps to alleviate stress in the lives of our members, enabling them to live their healthiest lives.”
Aetna Better Health of Illinois is adding these new lifestyle benefits to their existing value-added offerings, such as the 24-Hour Nurse Line, free baby essentials — like a $45 monthly voucher to spend on diapers, free gym membership and weight management support — free behavioral health and wellness app membership, free educational support, dollar rewards program for completing healthy actions and free rides to and from medical appointments. These perks were utilized over 5,000 times last year. These combined benefits are intended to make it easier for members to prioritize their health every day.
Aetna Better Health of Illinois serves over 360,000 Medicaid members in 102 counties. The health plan offers value-added benefits and best practices that have proven positive results in utilization, health gap closures and member satisfaction. For more information about Aetna Better Health of Illinois, visit our website, www.aetnabetterhealth.com/illinois-medicaid.
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About Aetna Medicaid
Aetna Medicaid Administrators LLC (Aetna Medicaid), a CVS Health company, has over 30 years of experience managing the care of under-resourced populations, using innovative approaches and a local presence in each market to achieve both successful health care results and effective cost outcomes. Aetna Medicaid has expertise serving high-need Medicaid members, including those who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. Currently, Aetna Medicaid owns and/or administers Medicaid managed health care plans under the names of Aetna Better Health and other affiliate names. Together, these plans serve members in 15 states, including Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. For more information, see www.aetnabetterhealth.com.
About CVS Health
CVS Health® is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues – including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health – whether that's managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications, or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system – and their personal health care – by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media.
Media contact
Robert Joyce
Robert.Joyce@CVSHealth.com
