FAQs

Your box is packed with about 15–18 pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables, and pantry staples, chosen to support your health condition. What you get depends on your state of residence, health plan, and the time of year, since we use seasonal, locally sourced produce. Some plans include ready-to-eat frozen meals instead of, or in addition to, fresh produce. For a full look at what to expect, visit our "What’s in the Box" page. Once your box arrives, the Fresh Produce Care Guide has tips on keeping everything fresh, and our Recipe page has ideas for every item in your box.

Medically Supportive Food (MSF) provides fresh produce for overall health based on general nutrition guidelines. Medically Tailored Groceries (MTG) are similar but specifically designed for your health condition, with items selected by a Registered Dietitian based on your diagnosis. Medically Tailored Meals (MTM) are fully prepared frozen meals designed to meet your specific medical dietary needs, which are helpful when cooking is difficult. In some New York plans, there is also a Pantry Stocking Box (PSB) that combines fresh produce with shelf-stable pantry items like pasta, rice, beans, and lentils.

Active members receive a weekly delivery. Your box is packed, shipped to your area, and brought to your door by our delivery partners. Your delivery day depends on where you live, and we will tell you your schedule when you enroll.

If you will not be home, tell us at least one week ahead of your scheduled delivery. We can arrange a safe drop-off spot or reschedule. We cannot accommodate same-week delivery changes. If you need to pause for travel or a hospital stay, call us and we will put your account on hold. Holds longer than two weeks may risk your plan authorization expiring before you receive all your shipments.

Yes. Let us know about any food allergies or restrictions when you enroll, and we will note them on your account. Your box is already tailored to your health condition, but we want to know about anything else that matters to you so we can adjust when possible.

Please call us at 949-673-0783 or submit the Contact Us form on the website. We will verify your eligibility, whether you are due for reauthorization, and address any other issues related to your deliveries.

Project FoodBox has high standards for the food we deliver. If what you received does not meet those standards, we are happy to replace the delivery at the next opportunity. Use the Contact Us form or call us to report any issues so we can make it right.

Please contact us as soon as you know the date you will be leaving your current residence. If your new residence is still within our service area, we can transfer your remaining deliveries to your new location.

Eligibility differs by insurance and state. In general, to get a Project FoodBox, you need two things: the right health insurance and a qualifying condition. Project FoodBox works with select Medicaid health plans in California (called Medi-Cal) and state-certified social care networks in New York. If you have active coverage from one of those plans and a qualifying health condition like diabetes or heart disease, you may qualify in California. In New York, qualification requires active Medicaid coverage and other conditions, like food insecurity or recent job loss. The best way to find out if you qualify is to fill out the form on our website or give us a call so we can guide you through the process.

In California, qualifying conditions include chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and obesity-related diagnoses. You must also have active coverage under Medi-Cal. You can see a full list of qualifying conditions on our website. If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, contact us and we will check for you.

To be eligible in New York, you must have some level of food insecurity and be part of an "enhanced" population (for example, have a chronic condition, be a high utilizer of Medicaid services, be pregnant or up to 12 months postpartum, or be enrolled in a Health Home). You must also be actively enrolled in a Medicaid Managed Care plan, have a stable place of residence, and live in an eligible county.

No. Project FoodBox is completely free for eligible members. There is no sign-up fee, no delivery charge, and no co-pay. Your Medicaid or Medi-Cal health plan covers it.

Getting started is easy. Fill out the short form on our website or give us a call. Once we confirm that you qualify, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist on our team will review your health information to make sure you get the right box for your needs. After that, we will set up your deliveries and let you know what to expect.

Not always. Some health plans require a referral from your doctor or care team before we can enroll you. Others allow you to sign up on your own, or through a social worker or community health worker. When you contact us, we will let you know right away what your specific plan requires.

It depends on your health plan. Not every plan requires documentation, but some do. When documentation is required, your paperwork must include your full name, your qualifying health condition or an ICD-10 code, and a date from within the last 12 months. Good options include an after-visit summary from a recent appointment, progress notes from your patient portal, or an updated list of diagnoses. We accept scans, photos, and screenshots as long as they are readable. If you do not have documentation, call your doctor's office and ask them to send it directly to us. You can send records by email, text, or fax using the contact details on our website.

Yes, with their permission. If you are a caregiver or family member helping someone sign up, we can walk you through the process. We will need to verify the member's health plan and some basic information. Just give us a call, and we will help.

If you meet pre-qualification, you should receive a text or email confirming that we received the application. If you call in to complete your application, our team will reach out to complete your enrollment within three business days if we have not already heard from you. Once enrollment is complete, we wait for authorization from your health plan, and they will notify you of their decision by mail. Approval can take several weeks, but once you are approved, we will text you when deliveries are scheduled to start.

Most memberships can be reauthorized after 12 weeks. Some plans require additional information or test results to remain eligible for up to 24 weeks. Confirm your own maximum eligibility at the time of initial enrollment. Some plans also require specific reauthorization forms or documents; your care team or our staff can guide you through what is needed.

Yes. Please call us at 949-673-0783 as soon as you know you would like to cancel or submit the Contact Us form on the website so our team can process your cancellation.

Yes. When your doctor or care team sends a referral, it works like a prescription—but for food instead of medicine. Your box is built around your health condition by a Registered Dietitian, and your health plan tracks your participation as part of your care.

Yes. Your health plan approves your enrollment, and Project FoodBox shares information about your participation with your health plan to support your care. Your doctor or care coordinator may bring it up at your next appointment.

It depends on your health plan. Some plans approve the program for a set period of time; others continue as long as you have an active qualifying condition and are still enrolled in the plan. Our team or your care coordinator can tell you what applies to your plan.