NationsBenefits and Tops Friendly Markets Partner to Advance Food as Medicine Access Across Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont
NationsBenefits®, a leading provider of supplemental‑benefit and healthcare‑fintech solutions, today announced a new retail integration with Tops Friendly Markets, the neighborhood grocer that operates 147 full‑service supermarkets across Upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Through this partnership, health plan members can immediately use their NationsBenefits Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card* at all Tops locations to purchase fresh produce, pantry staples, and over‑the‑counter wellness essentials with each transaction validated in real time by NationsBenefits’ Basket Adjudication Service (BAS).
Michael Parker, Co‑CEO of NationsBenefits
Food insecurity remains a critical challenge, with nearly one in four New York adults, particularly in rural counties, lacking reliable access to nutritious food. Nationwide, nearly 19 million Americans live in low‑income, low‑access census tracts, often more than ten miles from the nearest supermarket, while diabetes rates run up to 17 percent higher in rural areas than in urban centers. By integrating our Basket Adjudication Service (BAS) at every Tops checkout, NationsBenefits transforms routine grocery trips into Food as Medicine opportunities, letting members redeem supplemental benefits on culturally familiar, locally sourced items. Our real‑time basket‑analytics engine captures each eligible transaction at checkout, delivering ZIP‑code–level purchase insights that enable health plans to fine‑tune benefits and launch precisely targeted community outreach.
Ron Ferri, President of Tops Friendly Markets
Tops remains focused on delivering an exceptional experience rooted in fresh, high-quality products and services, and innovative programs. With a continued focus on meeting customers where they are, the company is helping support healthier lifestyles, simplify shopping, and make every trip to the store more rewarding.
Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN, FAND, manager of lifestyle and wellness for Tops
Peer‑reviewed research shows that medically tailored meals and broader Food as Medicine programs can cut annual hospitalizations by 47% while managing overall healthcare costs by 16%. Leveraging this proprietary BAS technology, health plans also gain real‑world, transaction‑level insights that illuminate nutrition gaps by geography or chronic‑condition cohort, guide ZIP‑code–specific preventive initiatives such as A1C screenings or dietitian consults, and power personalized rewards that reinforce healthy shopping habits, improve member experience and engagement. Together, we’re transforming everyday grocery visits into measurable outcomes that improve the health and wellness of individuals.
About NationsBenefits
NationsBenefits® is a leading provider of supplemental benefits, fintech solutions, and outcome improvement solutions to the healthcare industry. NationsBenefits partners with managed care organizations to provide innovative healthcare, data analytics, gap closure, and fintech solutions aimed at driving growth, reducing costs, and delighting members. Combining its cutting-edge technology with targeted retailer partnerships, NationsBenefits empowers health plans to deliver impactful supplemental benefits to optimize member experiences and drive better health outcomes. By simplifying processes to make smarter choices and expanding access to benefits solutions, NationsBenefits aims to improve each of its members’ quality of life through its revolutionary and comprehensive suite of offerings. To learn more, visit NationsBenefits.com.
About Tops Friendly Markets
Based in Williamsville, NY, Tops Markets currently operates 152 grocery stores in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, including one that is run by a franchisee. As the largest private, for-profit employer in Western New York, with over 14,000 associates, the company is dedicated to providing sustainably sourced, high-quality products, while helping its communities flourish via support for programs that eradicate hunger and disease, educate youth, and reduce environmental waste and energy consumption. For more information, visit www.topsmarkets.com.
*The Benefits Mastercard® Prepaid Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. Card can be used for eligible expenses wherever Mastercard is accepted. Valid only in the U.S. No cash access.