On Wednesday, Uber Eats unveiled ambitious plans to start accepting both food stamps (EBT) and healthcare benefits for grocery deliveries come 2024. This strategic move is primarily focused on enhancing grocery accessibility for certain groups, including residents of food deserts, the elderly, and those facing disabilities or transportation barriers.
From 2024 onward, those holding EBT cards can tap into their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds — colloquially known as food stamps — for grocery deliveries via Uber Eats.
Therese Lim, Uber Eats' Senior Director of Product, encapsulated the initiative, saying, "Whether you're needing to quickly find groceries within a budget or are looking for a bottle of bubbly under $20, we're here to take the stress out of shopping for you."
But Uber isn't stopping at EBT. They're also collaborating with Managed Medicaid and Medicare Advantage to onboard FSA Cards, Flex Cards, and other pertinent waiver payments by 2024. Interestingly, while giants like Instacart and Aldi have dabbled in EBT, Uber Eats is pioneering in accepting healthcare benefit payments.
Details will crystallize as we approach the 2024 rollout, but Uber's vision is clear: they aim to make this service available nationwide.
Oskar Hjertonsson, Uber's VP of new verticals, expressed, "We are thrilled to bring SNAP payment integration to Uber Eats and use Uber's technology and extensive local delivery networks to help provide SNAP recipients greater access to fresh groceries."
Rounding out their announcement, Uber Eats hinted at exciting tech enhancements: a savvy AI assistant to optimize customers' grocery hunts and a special "Sales Aisle" to spotlight local deals.
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