Insights
January 27, 2026
One in 12 individuals with employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) grapple with food insecurity. While payers, health systems, retailers and digital health companies have ramped up “food-as-medicine” efforts in recent years, considerable gaps remain. In fact, food insecurity – often thought to be associated with Medicaid – is affecting a growing portion of employees and their families, including those with moderate and higher incomes.
According to Morgan Health's Food Insecurity Trends in Employer-Sponsored Insurance report, food insecurity among ESI-covered individuals rose from 5.9% in 2021 to 8.5% in 2022 and 2023. The severity of food insecurity has also escalated, with the majority of affected individuals unable to afford balanced meals. This analysis, which utilizes the latest publicly available data (2022 and 2023) from the employer sector, expands on findings from our Quality and outcomes gaps in employer-sponsored insurance report.
A family facing food insecurity may have smaller or skipped meals or make difficult tradeoffs in other aspects of their lives, such as deciding between necessities like food and transportation or medical care. When that individual arrives at work or school, they’re therefore more likely to face fatigue and stress. More alarmingly, they’re at greater risk for diet-sensitive chronic conditions, including diabetes, obesity and hypertension. Affected individuals may also avoid seeking health care, struggle with paying medical bills and affording prescription treatments, and rely on costly emergency services.
The current economic climate is likely exacerbating food insecurity nationwide. Amid a roughly 9% increase in health care costs this year, many Americans are shouldering higher medical costs in addition to paying higher prices for commonly purchased grocery items, including eggs and poultry. Interventions like produce vouchers and medically tailored meals can help improve chronic condition management and reduce health care costs. This report explores the implications of food insecurity on employee health and offers recommendations for employers to address this growing issue.
Food insecurity is afflicting a larger portion of individuals covered by employer-sponsored coverage and to a greater degree. In 2022 and 2023, 8.5% identified as food insecure, compared with 5.9% in 2021. Data also show that food insecurity disproportionately affects younger or female adults, and is highest among Black, Hispanic and other non-White race/ethnicity groups.
Across all income levels, households with one or more children faced a higher prevalence of food insecurity, compared with those without children. For example, moderate income families (earning $75,000 to $100,000) with two adults and at least one child faced food insecurity at rates ranging from 12% to 16%.
Food insecurity is not only associated with a higher prevalence of disease but also more advanced disease. More than half of people who experienced high food insecurity and more than one-third of those facing moderate food insecurity struggled to afford their prescriptions, compared with 10% of food secure individuals. In addition, 43% of individuals who experienced high levels of food insecurity sought care in an emergency room the prior year, versus 17% of food secure people.
Food insecurity is more common among ESI-covered employees than realized, disproportionately affecting those with incomes below $100,000 and among certain demographics. Employers can assess food security gaps, consider the effect on social drivers of health, and explore models from Medicare and Medicaid to adopt best practices. Initial steps may include screening employees for social needs, followed by collaborating with insurance carriers, providers, retail solutions, benefits platforms and other community partners that specialize in social driver of health programs to provide medically tailored meals, produce vouchers and nutrition education.