FareRx Consumer Research · Executive Brief · 2026

People want food benefits. Awareness and trust are the challenge.

Five surveys and 775 respondents reveal a consistent demand signal—and practical lessons for how health plans, employers, and clinical partners communicate and deliver a food benefit.

87.6%
Likely to use
69.5%
Unaware or unsure
78.4%
Matters for plan choice
52.8%
Would switch to get it
The conclusion

Demand is not the hard part.

Likely use stayed between 86.8% and 88.7% across the three coverage samples. People who did not know the benefit existed were still 86.8% likely to use it. That points to awareness, credibility, and enrollment execution—not appetite—as the more useful design problems.

Program design
  • 63.4% chose condition-specific groceries as appealing.
  • 75.9% were likely to enroll when dietitian support was included.
  • 72% said they would stay as long as the program was offered.
  • Coverage and consumer-benefit language should appear early and clearly.
Coverage audiences

A consistent signal across different populations.

SampleLikely to useUnawareMatters for plan choiceWould switch
Medicare Advantage n=15186.8%77.5%71.5%38.4%
Medicaid n=15287.5%65.1%80.3%56.6%
Employer / commercial n=15088.7%66%83.3%63.3%
Methodology and limits

Five consumer-panel surveys included 775 respondents total, with 150 to 162 respondents per survey.

The three demand surveys screened for coverage type and chronic-condition relevance. Findings describe these survey samples, not the general population.

Percentages are respondent-level calculations. Small differences between samples near 150 should be treated cautiously; a rough 95% margin of error is ±8 points.

The Medicare Advantage believability question appeared in a different order from the Medicaid and employer surveys, so that cross-segment comparison is directional only.

The concept test and demand surveys used different samples, screeners, and stimuli. Comparisons between them are directional, not a controlled experiment.

Plan choice, switching, enrollment, and continued-use results measure stated intent, not observed behavior.

Next conversation

Design a benefit people understand—and use.

FareRx combines condition-specific food, registered-dietitian care, local delivery, and Member Hospitality for health plans and employers.