Walmart and HumanaVitality Partner for First-of-its-Kind Healthier Food Program Designed to Incentivize Wellness in America

Sept. 19, 2012 – Walmart today launched a first-of-its-kind effort to help consumers across the U.S. save money on more-nutritious foods and ultimately, live longer, healthier lives. In partnership with HumanaVitality, a subsidiary of Humana, the effort represents the first national program where a major retailer and healthcare company have come together to incentivize people to eat better through savings on healthier foods. Beginning on Oct. 15, more than 1 million HumanaVitality members who shop at Walmart will be eligible for a new program which offers a 5% savings on products that qualify for Walmart’s Great For You icon, including fresh fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy. Recent research* shows the struggle consumers face with purchasing healthier foods. In fact, one in four families report skipping healthy purchases often or always due to price. By collaborating with HumanaVitality to invest in healthier, affordable food, Walmart is directly addressing this issue and working to bring down the costs of healthcare in the U.S. This program continues an effort Walmart began in 2011 when it unveiled a commitment to make healthier food affordable and accessible with First Lady Michelle Obama. It is another example of how Walmart uses its size and scale to lead on big social issues that matter to Americans. “Price is an important factor in incentivizing wellness in America. By offering affordable, healthier foods, we will help make our customers healthier and reduce costs to our healthcare system as a whole. This represents preventative care in its purest form,” said John Agwunobi, M.D., president of health and wellness, Walmart U.S. “We want to be our customers’ wellness destination – the retailer that provides them with affordable ways to fight for their health.” “We need innovative thinking and new partnerships to successfully address our country’s alarming healthcare issues,” said Ginny Ehrlich, chief executive officer of the William J. Clinton Foundation’s Health Matters Initiative. “Walmart and HumanaVitality working together to help people make better decisions in the grocery aisle is a perfect example of how promoting healthier lifestyles can be a win for companies willing to explore new paths and, far more importantly, a great benefit for the health status of Americans.” Joe Woods, CEO of HumanaVitality, is equally committed to inspiring healthier behavior. “The ‘Vitality HealthyFood’ program with Walmart represents a new way we can decrease America’s healthcare bill. In a recent survey of our members, 84% said that a savings program would motivate them to purchase healthier foods. We will be aggressively communicating this program to more than 600,000 hospitals and physicians, as well as 60,000 insurance brokers to ensure as many members as possible can benefit from it.