In California, welfare recipients can enjoy a range of luxury foods at no cost, things like salmon, beef, organic fruits and vegetables, and even meals from Amy’s Kitchen, delivered directly to their homes each week.
Many, like TikTok user “Lupita,” are making the most of this program. She shared a video earlier this year, where she opened a grocery box funded by taxpayers, while chatting with her manicurist. The box included fresh produce like carrots, broccoli, apples, and lettuce, to name a few.
As she exclaimed, “Just yesterday, I was thinking I needed some lettuce, but it was like $5. And now look at this—fresh lettuce! Thank you, God.”
This initiative can be traced back to Governor Gavin Newsom’s nearly $12 billion Medicaid reform plan. Under this package, welfare recipients—regardless of immigration status—are eligible for free “medically tailored” meals and groceries, which would be quite pricey for the average consumer. The goal? To help improve health outcomes and potentially reduce hospital visits.
CalAIM, the centerpiece of Newsom’s Medi-Cal reforms, was signed into law in 2021. It allows Medicaid funds to flow into various social programs, including transitional rent assistance. Newsom has called it a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to completely transform the Medicaid system in California.”
The program’s most notable offering is the medically tailored meals service, which delivers either prepared meals or grocery items suited to specific health needs. Interestingly, getting started with the program seems straightforward. Applicants need a valid Medi-Cal card, a recommendation from a healthcare provider, and they must have a qualifying medical condition. As one expert noted, “They’re not looking to push people away from the program; they really want people to join.”
Once enrolled, recipients receive meal deliveries for up to 12 weeks, after which they can re-enroll if they still qualify. However, this doesn’t come cheap; it costs taxpayers over $1,500 for a single recipient across a 24-week period, accounting for food and delivery expenses.
The program has gained traction, particularly because the food offered can include a variety of high-quality items—everything from beef and chicken to organic produce. These are items that could add up to hundreds of dollars if purchased at a store.
This approach aligns with the broader “Food Is Medicine” trend, which advocates for the delivery of health-boosting foods to avoid expensive hospital admissions. Some studies have shown that providing medically tailored meals can decrease hospitalizations significantly, leading some lawmakers to support pilot programs that would allow hospitals to send patients home with nutritious meals.
However, there are concerns about sustainability—what happens when the state stops delivering these meals? And is this just layering another food assistance program on top of the federal SNAP? In California, many who utilize CalFresh, the state’s food stamp program, are also on Medi-Cal.
Meanwhile, companies across the nation are benefiting from this shift toward medically tailored foods. California’s contractors, including Project FoodBox and Project Open Hand, have secured millions from Medicaid. In fact, Project FoodBox alone garnered over $67.8 million between 2022 and 2024. They now even have a location in the Bronx to assist families with community-based services.
Another significant biller is Bento Health, previously known as Hunger: Not Impossible, which connects Medicaid members with grocery services. Interestingly, they indicate that their eligibility isn’t restricted by immigration status, which has raised eyebrows. California’s recent expansion of Medi-Cal to undocumented immigrants allows them to access the medically tailored meals program as well.
In summary, many qualified undocumented immigrants can access these luxury food boxes, completely funded by the state.
We attempted to contact food providers for comment, but did not receive a response. California’s Department of Health Care Services defended the program by highlighting its cost-saving benefits.
As the medically tailored meals program continues to grow, it seems there is a widening divide between California’s struggling middle-class families and the welfare recipients receiving these luxury food options.
