Do Insurance Plans Cover Nutritional Counseling?

If you have certain medical conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, your doctor may suggest nutrition counseling services to help manage your condition. These services allow you to learn how to make the healthiest choices when it comes to food for your unique medical needs.

Your primary care physician may also suggest that you seek nutritional counseling, also known as dietary counseling or medical nutrition therapy if you are at high risk of developing a chronic condition or require weight-loss assistance.

The good news is that most health insurance plans cover nutritional counseling. However, most plans will have certain stipulations, including the credentials of your nutrition counselor and whether or not you need a doctor’s referral. Some insurance only covers dietary counseling for specific medical conditions.

Read on to learn what nutritional counseling is, how it works and how to find out if your insurance plan covers this medical service.

The Basics of Nutritional Counseling

You may be wondering, what is nutrition counseling? Registered dietitians (RDs) and registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) provide guidance on how to build a healthy diet based on your medical needs through dietary counseling.

Nutritional counseling can be used as preventive care for diseases, lowering cholesterol, reducing body weight, managing hypertension and improving overall wellness simply by eating a healthy diet.

Dietary counseling can also be used to establish a healthy eating plan if you’ve been diagnosed with certain illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity or cancer.

Services offered through nutritional counseling include:

• Bariatric pre-surgery treatment
• Food allergies
• General nutrition education
• Meal planning
• Medical or cancer nutrition therapy
• Mindful eating techniques
• Pediatric nutrition
• Pregnancy nutrition
• Sports nutrition
• Weight management

Dietary counseling normally starts with an introductory session that allows your RD or RDN to better understand your daily diet and what medical concerns need to be addressed. From there, they will provide guidance on what a manageable healthy diet should look like for your unique needs while providing support throughout your journey.

The Importance of Qualified Nutritionists and Dietitians

RDs and RDNs are health professionals specially trained through college courses, internships and national exams to teach patients about nutrition.

Certified RDs and RDNs must complete at least 75 hours of continuing education every five years to stay up to date with the latest evidence-based research and safe nutritional advice.

By working with an RD or RDN, you’re able to receive expert nutritional counseling that’s unique to you, helps keep you healthy and improves any health issues.

Qualifications of Dietitians and Nutritionists Covered by Insurance

RDs and RDNs receive the same educational training, which includes:

• Completing an internship of at least 1,200 supervised hours
• Earning at least a master’s degree in a field such as clinical nutrition, dietetics or public health nutrition from a college or university accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Pass the national exam of the Commission on Dietetic Registration

After receiving their license, RDs and RDNs must complete at least 75 hours of continuing education to renew their license every five years. By seeing a licensed RD or RDN, you can trust that you’ll receive the latest information and guidance regarding your nutritional counseling.

Insurance Coverage for Nutrition Counseling

Most health insurance plans cover dietary counseling. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires plans to cover nutrition counseling as a preventive medical service.

While your insurance may extend to counseling, certain requirements must be met. For example, some insurance plans will only cover nutritional counseling to treat chronic conditions such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease or heart disease. Others may only provide coverage if the counseling is used as a preventive measure for those at a higher risk for certain illnesses.

Your health insurance may require a doctor’s referral or limit how many nutritionist sessions they cover annually. It’s important to note that your out-of-pocket expenses will vary depending on your plan's copays and deductibles.

It’s important to contact your health insurance provider directly to find out what they cover regarding dietary counseling.

Making Nutrition Counseling Accessible and Affordable

An initial visit with a licensed RD or RDN without insurance may cost somewhere between 100 to 250 dollars or more. Follow-up visits range between 50 to 150 dollars per visit. To find out if your health insurance covers dietary counseling, you should:

• Call your insurance provider to ask about your coverage, such as referral requirements, how many sessions you’re allowed per year and what health conditions qualify
• Obtain a doctor’s referral if necessary and submit it to your insurance provider
• Review your policy benefits and coverage to see what they offer

Similarly to other medical professionals, you’ll most likely receive the most savings using an in-network provider. Speak with your insurance provider to find in-network RDs and RDNs near you.

Take advantage of nutritional counseling if your insurance provider offers it as a preventive service to stay healthy and better support whole-person health.

Making the Most of Nutritional Counseling

Eating habits play a monumental role in your overall health. Dietary counseling offered through a licensed RD or RDN allows you to learn how to eat a healthy diet to treat chronic conditions and prevent them from happening again.

If your AdventHealth Primary Care+ doctor believes nutritional counseling is right for you, make sure to explore your insurance options.

Find an AdventHealth Primary Care+ provider to set up your appointment. You deserve to feel whole in body, mind and spirit.