A Facebook post from July 8 shows a video in which a person, speaking in Spanish, walks through a park. In the video, the voice-over does not match the person speaking. The text of the post reads: “Claim your Health Spending Card and save on food today! Attention adults over 64, a benefit you can not miss!”.
The voiceover adds: “If you want free food for the rest of your life, there’s a new benefit for older Americans that helps pay for your groceries. This is a supplement to the government’s Medicare coverage.” In addition, it is mentioned that the card is loaded with thousands of dollars and that applicants must verify their eligibility by visiting a website.
Free Food With Medicare: The Reality Behind the Viral Post
There is no evidence of a new Medicare supplement that provides free food for life. No government website mentions such a program, and no respectable media outlets have reported on it. The links included in the publication do not lead to any government website.
The official website of Medicare, which is a government health insurance program, does not mention any food program like the one described in the Facebook post. As of today, we found no credible news about the alleged new benefit. A button on the post leads to a non-governmental site that is no longer active, reinforcing the suspicion of fraud.
No New Medicare Benefit Covers Free Food for Life
According to the AARP, the original Medicare program does not offer food allowances. However, some private Medicare Advantage plans do provide food benefits for people with certain chronic diseases. This program, which helps pay for food, is not new and does not cover all food.
The government offers other food assistance programs for low-income seniors, although none is a card that covers all food expenses. For example, the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program helps source local produce, and the Basic Food Supplement Program provides foods such as fruits, vegetables, and cereals to seniors who meet certain requirements.
The Medicare website warns seniors to beware of potential fraud and to avoid sharing their Medicare number or personal information with unverified sources. Fact-checking media has debunked several false claims related to Medicare and health benefits. These include the claim that seniors can get a $1,728 lump sum from Social Security or Medicare, as well as the claim that the government is giving thousands of dollars in monthly health credits to Americans under the age of 65.
