May 2019

Bringing Relief to the Urban Food Desert

Do you have patients who don’t have access to healthy food? Is their lack of nutrition affecting their health? Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) and Blue Cross Blue Shield Institute^SM (BCBS Institute^SM) have partnered on foodQ^SM, a subscription-based food service to deliver healthy meals to food deserts. Food deserts are areas where sensible food isn’t available or affordable.

Access to food is directly related to an individual’s health. foodQ’s goal is to bring nutritious, ready-to-eat meals straight to your patients’ door. Eating better helps lower the risks of chronic illnesses like diabetes and obesity.

For now, foodQ delivers meals to 25 ZIP codes in Chicago. Your patients may enter their ZIP codes at the foodQ website to determine if they are eligible. They must live in one of the ZIP codes below to qualify, but they don’t have to be BCBSIL members.

Eligible ZIP codes:

Details and Cost
Subscribers can choose from six meal options including beef, chicken and vegetarian. The monthly subscription fee is $10 (includes free delivery and buy-one-get-one option for each meal). Non-subscribers pay $10 per meal, plus a $6 delivery fee per order. KitchFix provides meals to Chicago residents.

How you can help:

• Check the ZIP codes above to see if foodQ services your patient’s area.
• If so, let them know how foodQ can provide meal options at roughly the cost of a fast-food meal.
• Tell them to visit foodQhub.com to view menus and learn more.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Institute (BCBS Institute) is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, a federation of 36 independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.