PROVIDENCE, RI (December 16, 2020) – Blue Cross & Blue
Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) is helping older Rhode Islanders stay safe and
healthy this holiday season with weekly grocery delivery. This program comes at
no cost to certain high-risk Medicare Advantage members. In addition, Blue
Cross is sending every individual Medicare Advantage member a fitness kit to
make it easier to exercise at home.
“We recognize how challenging this year has been, especially
for older Rhode Islanders,” said Corey McCarty, BCBSRI consumer segment vice
president. “Offering no-cost grocery delivery and ways to stay healthy and well
at home gives our Medicare Advantage members one less thing to worry about, and
allows them to stay well in the comfort and safety of their homes.”
More than 1,800 Medicare Advantage members who have
conditions that put them at higher risk for COVID-19 are receiving weekly
contactless grocery deliveries during the months of December and January.
Whenever possible, groceries, which include milk, eggs,
fruit, vegetables, cheese, pasta, bread, toilet paper, paper towels, hand
sanitizer and other essentials, are being sourced from local farms and
vendors in an effort to help support Rhode Island’s small business community.
Local vendors participating in BCBSRI’s grocery delivery program include New
Vermont Creamery in Providence, Rochs Fresh
Foods and Produce with locations in West Greenwich and Narragansett
and Superior Bakery in Cranston. Other local businesses supporting the delivery
include Christy’s Car
& Truck Rental in Johnston, Pillottes Portable Refrigeration in Swansea, Mass., SaniTides in Providence,
Absolute Fun Party Rentals in Warwick and Bori Graphics in Warwick.
To facilitate the grocery deliveries, BCBSRI partnered with
West Warwick-based Millonzi Fine Catering whose staff includes
several individuals who were recently laid off or furloughed as a result of
COVID-19, as well as newly hired staff to support this effort.
“BCBSRI’s grocery delivery program is truly a testament to
the power of local and to the power of Rhode Islanders serving other Rhode
Islanders during times of need,” McCarty added. “Without the help, creativity
and willingness of these vendors to collaborate, we never could have made this
idea a reality.”
Along with their groceries, members will receive helpful
information about their Medicare Advantage plans to make sure they’re taking
advantage of all of their Blue Cross benefits, including $0 Doctors Online
telehealth benefit and numerous other $0 features like transportation, labs and
X-rays, and primary care provider visits.
In sending fitness kits to Medicare Advantage members, Blue
Cross wants to make it easy for members to take advantage of expanded virtual
fitness programming. Classes that were once available in person at Your Blue
Store?
will be offered twice a day, five days a week. To learn more about the virtual
fitness class schedule, members can visit http://www.facebook.com/bcbsriwww.facebook.com/bcbsri.