Why food access might be the next big thing in healthcare benefits

Published 4 Min Read

A woman holds a bowl of salad in her lap.
sonyakamoz from AdobeStock

Making nutritious meals is no easy feat, due to the high costs of groceries and high rates of burnout among workers. And yet, it may be the key to preventing chronic diseases and lowering healthcare costs. 

According to the CDC, chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes, account for nearly 75% of healthcare spending in the U.S. But it’s estimated that more than 90% of type 2 diabetes, 80% of Coronary artery disease (a common type of heart disease) and 70% of strokes are potentially preventable, with diet being a prominent factor, as cited by the National Institute of Health. So shouldn’t access to nutritional food be an essential healthcare benefit? 

Deanna Cuadra
Senior Reporter

Deanna Cuadra is a senior reporter at Employee Benefit News. Her work covers healthcare, U.S. policy and reform, challenges faced by women and parents in the workplace and innovation in work culture … Read full bio


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