Humana delivers one millionth meal in Well Dine food program

Humana has served nutritious meals to more than 81,000 Humana Medicare Advantage members in 120 cities after a hospital or nursing facility stay since the company's meal-delivery program began in 2006. Yesterday, Well Dine delivered the Humana program's one millionth meal to Humana Medicare Advantage member Sylvia van Dyke, 61, of Knoxville.

“Humana is dedicated to providing benefits to our members that will help improve their health and well being”

The Well Dine food program delivers meals to eligible members following their inpatient stay at a medical facility. Medical studies show that Medicare members are often vulnerable to readmission in their first few days home, and that includes their ability to prepare meals for themselves. Proper nutrition is vital for rehabilitation and also helps with medication adherence. According to research on Humana's meal-delivery program, Humana Medicare Advantage members who participate in the Well Dine delivery program have fewer hospital readmissions, shorter hospital stays and fewer emergency-room visits.

"Humana is dedicated to providing benefits to our members that will help improve their health and well being," said Doug Haaland, regional senior products president for Humana. "Well Dine is a program that really delivers on that promise. We're thrilled at Humana to have served one million nutritious meals to 81,000 Humana Medicare Advantage members in cities across the country since the program began four years ago."

Eligible Humana Medicare Advantage members receive up to 10 frozen, precooked, nutritious meals delivered by Well Dine at no charge, along with a guide on healthy eating. The program also allows Humana to have multiple touch points with the members following delivery of the meals to see how they are doing and explain community-based senior services, such as ongoing meal service, transportation assistance or nutrition counseling, for which the member may be eligible.

The Well Dine program is making this important connection to these services for many seniors who otherwise may not know where to turn for help, such as the recipient of the one millionth meal, Knoxville resident Sylvia van Dyke. Ms. van Dyke, a Humana Medicare Advantage member who is blind, has been hospitalized twice over the past year. Most recently she had knee-replacement surgery and regaining her mobility has been a challenge. Ms. van Dyke has taken advantage of the Well Dine meal-delivery program after each hospital stay to ensure that she has precooked, nutritious meals at her disposal, which is one less thing for her to worry about as she focuses on her recovery.