UnitedHealthcare Healthy Food Card 2027: Who Qualifies, Food List and Login
Reviewed October 22, 2026. The UnitedHealthcare healthy food benefit is a credit loaded onto the UnitedHealthcare UCard for members of certain UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, mostly Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) for people with both Medicare and Medicaid. It can be used for groceries such as produce, dairy, meat, bread and pantry staples, and in many plans also for OTC products and utility bills. Not everyone qualifies: the food and utility part is a benefit for chronically ill members, and for 2027 UnitedHealthcare says your qualifying condition must be verified.
Quick answer: You can’t apply for a UnitedHealthcare food card on its own. You get it by enrolling in a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan that includes the healthy food benefit and by meeting that plan’s eligibility rules. Credits load to your UCard monthly, and unused money expires.
What’s changing for the UnitedHealthcare food card in 2027
- Verification first: UnitedHealthcare says that for 2027, “verification of a qualifying chronic condition and more complex health needs will be required,” and if you change carriers you’ll need to be verified again (UHC: food, OTC and utility bill credit).
- Two cards for many members: starting in 2027, UnitedHealthcare says membership comes with a member ID card and a separate UCard. The food credit stays on the UCard (UHC: UCard).
- New amounts: credits change by plan each year. On UnitedHealthcare’s Texas plan pages, for example, the combined monthly credit for OTC (plus healthy food and utilities for qualifying members) is $265 on UHC Dual Complete TX-Y1 (HMO-POS D-SNP) and $258 on TX-S4 for 2027, while TX-S001 (Regional PPO D-SNP) drops from $37 in 2026 to $27 in 2027. See our UnitedHealthcare UCard in Texas guide.
How to log in to your UnitedHealthcare healthy food benefit
There’s no separate food card website. Sign in to your UnitedHealthcare member site (myUHC) or the UnitedHealthcare app and open the UCard Hub. That’s where you check your healthy food balance, find participating grocery stores and shop online. If you haven’t activated your card, UnitedHealthcare says you can do it at activate.uhc.com or in the app. For phone help, see our UnitedHealthcare OTC card balance guide.
What is the UnitedHealthcare healthy food card?
There isn’t a separate “food card.” UnitedHealthcare loads the healthy food credit onto the same UCard members use as their member ID and for OTC purchases. Depending on the plan, the credit can be OTC only, OTC plus healthy food, or OTC plus healthy food plus utilities (UHC: OTC, healthy food and utilities credit).
| Benefit type on your UCard | How often credits load |
|---|---|
| OTC only | Quarterly |
| OTC and healthy food | Monthly |
| OTC, healthy food and utilities | Monthly |
Source: UnitedHealthcare’s credit page. UnitedHealthcare says funds expire and each benefit has its own expiration timeframe, so check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage (EOC) before you plan to save money for later.
Who qualifies for the healthy food benefit?
Medicare doesn’t give food cards to everyone. Grocery and utility help in Medicare Advantage is usually a Special Supplemental Benefit for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI), which plans can only offer to members who meet the plan’s chronic illness criteria (CMS CY 2025 final rule fact sheet). Starting with 2027 plans, CMS also requires plans to publicly post their SSBCI eligibility criteria (CMS CY 2027 final rule fact sheet).
UnitedHealthcare lists qualifying conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Chronic heart failure
- Chronic high blood pressure
- Chronic high cholesterol
Members must also be at high risk of hospitalization and eligible for intensive care coordination, and other conditions may qualify. For 2027, UnitedHealthcare says verification of a qualifying condition and complex health needs will be required before OTC credits can be spent on healthy food and utilities, and that changing carriers means being verified again.
What foods can you buy?
UnitedHealthcare lists these healthy food categories:
- Bread and grains
- Dairy and eggs
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat and seafood
- Pantry and prepared foods
- Water, coffee, tea and juice
Item and brand eligibility can change. The UnitedHealthcare app has a product scanner that tells you whether an item is covered before you reach the register.
Where can you use it?
UnitedHealthcare says the UCard works at more than 70,000 participating stores nationwide, including Walmart, Walgreens, Dollar General and Target, plus online through the UCard Hub or the UnitedHealthcare app. Use the Store Finder on the UCard Hub to check a specific store. We cover store-by-store questions in which stores accept the UnitedHealthcare OTC card.
How to get a UnitedHealthcare food card
- Check whether you qualify for a D-SNP or other plan with the benefit. D-SNPs are for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. See our guide to dual eligibility.
- Compare plans in your ZIP code. Benefits and amounts vary by plan and county. Use the Medicare Plan Finder or the plan’s Summary of Benefits.
- Enroll during a valid enrollment period. Fall Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. People with Medicaid or Extra Help may also have special enrollment periods.
- Complete any eligibility verification. If your plan requires proof of a chronic condition, your doctor’s records are typically used.
- Activate and use your UCard. Sign in to the UCard Hub or the UnitedHealthcare app to check your balance and see your digital card.
How to check your balance
- Sign in at the UCard Hub (ucardhub.uhc.com).
- Use the UnitedHealthcare app, which shows your balance and your digital UCard.
- Call the Member Services number on the back of your member ID card.
For other insurers, see our OTC card balance guide.
Can you pay utility bills with it?
Only if your plan includes the utilities credit. UnitedHealthcare lists electric, heat, home phone, internet, natural gas, sanitation, sewer and water. You can pay a utility that accepts Mastercard directly, pay online through the Bill Pay network, or pay at a Walmart MoneyCenter with your UCard, a government ID and a copy of your bill. UnitedHealthcare notes that the utilities benefit may count as income for housing assistance, so check with your housing authority.
Frequently asked questions
How do I log in to my UnitedHealthcare healthy food card?
Sign in to your UnitedHealthcare member site or the UnitedHealthcare app and open the UCard Hub. Your healthy food balance is shown there.
Is the UnitedHealthcare food card free?
There’s no separate charge for the benefit, but it only comes with certain UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans. You must be enrolled in a plan that includes it and meet the eligibility rules.
Does every UnitedHealthcare Medicare plan have a food card?
No. Many plans include only an OTC credit, and the healthy food and utility credits are generally limited to members with qualifying chronic conditions in specific plans.
Do unused food credits roll over?
UnitedHealthcare says funds expire and benefits have expiration timeframes. Check your plan’s EOC and cardholder agreement for your plan’s exact rules.
Can I get cash back with the UCard?
No. UnitedHealthcare says the card can’t be used for cash or at ATMs.
What’s the difference between this and SNAP?
SNAP is a government food assistance program run by your state. The UnitedHealthcare credit is a private plan benefit. You can have both if you qualify for each.
Can I use the card for things other than food?
Yes, if your plan includes them. The same UCard can carry OTC credits for items like pain relief and first aid, and utility credits in some plans. See our UnitedHealthcare OTC catalog guide.
Related reading
- Medicare food and grocery allowance: who qualifies
- Medicare Advantage plans with OTC benefits
- Aetna healthy food benefits
- Humana healthy food card
This article is general information, not individual insurance advice. Benefits, amounts and eligibility vary by plan and area. Medicare365 is not affiliated with UnitedHealthcare or with the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.