The claim: New Medicare supplement provides seniors free groceries for life
[En Español: Es falso que nuevo complemento de Medicare ofrece comida gratis de por vida]
A July 8 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows a video of someone talking in Spanish to the camera while walking in a park. It includes a voiceover that doesn’t synchronize with the person speaking.
“Claim your Health Expenses Card and save on groceries today!” reads the post’s text in Spanish. “Attention seniors over 64, a benefit you can’t miss!”
The voiceover adds, “If you want free groceries for the rest of your life, there’s a new benefit for older Americans that helps pay for their food. It comes as a supplement to your government Medicare coverage.”
The narrator says that the card is loaded with thousands of dollars and applicants have to check eligibility by visiting a website.
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Our rating: False
There is no evidence of a new Medicare supplement that provides free groceries for life. No government websites list such a program, and no reputable media outlet has reported on it. The links included in the post do not go to a government website.
No new benefit for seniors pays for groceries
There is no grocery program like the post describes listed on the Medicare website, which is a government health insurance program. USA TODAY found no credible news reports about the supposed new benefit.
A button on the post leads to a non-government site that is no longer active.
Fact check: Facebook post about health credits is scam, targets users younger than 65
Original Medicare does not offer a grocery allowance, but some private Medicare Advantage Plans do for people with certain chronic conditions, according to AARP. The program that assists in paying for groceries is not new and does not cover all foods.
The government provides food assistance programs for low-income seniors, but it’s not a card to help pay for groceries. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program helps seniors obtain local agricultural products and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program gives food items like fruit, vegetable and grains to eligible seniors each month.
The Medicare website warns seniors to be cautious of potential fraud and avoid sharing their Medicare number or personal information.
USA TODAY has debunked false claims surrounding Medicare and health benefits, including that seniors can get a $1,728 lump sum from Social Security or Medicare and that the government is giving Americans under 65 thousands in health credits every month.
USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Our fact-check sources:
- Medicare.gov, accessed July 11, Home Page
- Medicare.gov, accessed July 11, Get started with Medicare
- AARP, March 24, 2023, Does Medicare offer a grocery allowance?
- Food and Nutrition Service, July 1, 2024, Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program
- Food and Nutrition Service, Dec. 28, 2023, Commodity Supplemental Food Program
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