Low-Carb Meal Plans Courtesy of Your Insurance Provider

Convenience Cooking Just Got More Convenient

In this digital age where fast and convenient seem to trump all else, it was only a matter of time before cooking got with the program–and it has, with meal plans.

Meal plans are now the hottest trend in food. Some of the top ranking meal plans include Blue Apron, Plated, and Hello Fresh. These subscription services allow consumers to customize their daily and weekly menus and have all the ingredients delivered right to the door. Many plans partner with stores and shopping services to provide discounts to shoppers. They’ve also taken on an educational role with their websites and apps, teaching cooking techniques and offering nutritional advice.

Given the multitude of choices out there, there seems to be a meal plan for everyone. However, there is now one meal plan that fundamentally changes the playing field: PlateJoy.1

Changing the Game

Until now, subscription food services relied on just that: customers subscribing for weekly or monthly options and paying for deliveries out of pocket. In 2012, Christina Bognet changed the game. She designed a meal plan model that insurance companies could cover, eliminating customer costs.

The idea is simple: if a person subscribes to a plan that caters explicitly to a preexisting condition, their insurance will foot the bill, similar to paying for prescription services or preventative care. In February, Bognet and her service, PlateJoy, kicked off the new program with a unique low-carb meal plan for type 2 diabetes. So far, several Blue Cross Blue Shield plans back the program, as well as employers such as Krogers and Dignity Health.2

For a small fee, PlateJoy plans customized menu plans to fit customer’s diets. Then, clients can either buy the ingredients themselves, or hire an InstaCart shopper through PlateJoy to go shopping for them. These services can cost between $14 and $69–without insurance. However, if insurance covers a user, the meals and delivery are free. PlateJoy instead sends the bill on to insurers.

Low Costs for Low-Carbs

Studies show that a low-carb diet is an ideal diet for type 2 diabetes. This diet lowers insulin levels, as well as encourages and maintains weight loss. These are all necessary for managing the condition. Not only that, but meal prep has proven to be an effective way of accessing the fullest benefits of a low-carb diet. The better planned out one’s meals are, the more likely a person will stick to the diet.

Many have struggled in the past with devising low-carb menus, or affording the costs of healthier dietary options. PlateJoy’s deal with insurances agencies could severely reduce a person’s chances of diabetes-related complications.