Key Points
- Health insurance is required to cover nutritionist services in the United States.
- Coverage for nutrition counseling will vary by insurance provider and by plan.
- Using insurance to pay for dietitian services through a service like Fay Nutrition will help you save both time and money.
If you’re looking for a well-qualified nutritionist, it can seem complicated and difficult. You want to be sure your provider is reputable, as well as personable and professional. You want to work with the most awarded provider, so you are looking for a registered dietitian. In addition, you want to make sure you can afford these important services.
The good news is, your health insurance likely offers coverage for nutrition counseling. But there are a few things to know before you book your first appointment. Here’s how to find out if your health insurance covers nutritionist services and the expected costs.
Why a nutritionist?
Registered dietitians (RD’s) and registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN’s) are qualified nutrition counseling providers. They have extensive educational requirements and can provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and diagnose and treat health conditions and diseases. Both RD and RDN are titles; nutritionist is’nt. RDs and RDNs are the only board-certified professionals legally permitted to provide nutrition counseling services. If you’re getting advice from a nutritionist that is not an RD or RDN, then you should run far, far away.
Registered dietitians act as wellness and healthcare providers. They use their clinical and medical expertise to guide you through nutrition education and support you in the very personal nature of the work you do together. Nutrition counseling can have an emotional side to it, and your dietitian is there to support you every step of the way to get you to your goal.
RD’s can treat such things as eating disorders, pre-diabetes or diabetes, even kidney disease, obesity, and more. They also offer preventative services for anyone trying to take their health into their own hands and work on their overall well-being. With all this in mind, you can see why dietitians are the most qualified and trustworthy type of nutritionist you can hire.
Are they covered by insurance?
In the United States, the Affordable Care Act mandates that health insurance covers nutritionist counseling. Health insurance companies like United Healthcare, Aetna, and BlueCross-BlueShield all cover dietitian services. Coverage can vary by insurer and by plan. Most will cover 100% of nutrition services. We’ll go through the details of health insurance coverage for nutrition services.
Why are dietitians the only nutritionists covered?
The only qualified nutritionist is one with an RD or RDN title. When insurance decides to cover a certain type of care, they do research into the efficacy of that care. The education and board certification standards that go into obtaining an RD credential ensure that these nutrition experts are providing real medical advice that is clinically proven to work. The advice of a dietitian goes beyond being “rooted in science.” Insurance companies and regulatory bodies ensure that when one is working with a dietitian, the nutrition advice being given is proven to work through evidence-based practices that have been proven and peer-reviewed research. This is the highest quality of care possible and is proven to work. Even “certified health coaches” and nutrition therapy practitioners (NTP’s) don’t have anywhere near the amount of knowledge as RD’s, which is why insurance companies will only pay for services rendered by an RD.
Is insurance required to see a nutritionist?
The Affordable Care Act requires MNT to be covered, but insurance isn’t required to receive nutrition counseling. Anyone can work with an RD. If you do have health insurance, though, your out-of-pocket costs are likely to be $0 or close to $0. That’s what makes a tool like Fay Nutrition so valuable: Fay pairs you with an in-network registered dietitian and bills your insurance on your behalf so you don’t have to worry. Using a tool like Fay can help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in the long run while still getting the care you need.
How to find out if my insurance plan covers nutritionists
You should contact your health insurance provider to find out what nutrition services are covered by your plan. Use the phone number on the back of your insurance card to get in touch with customer service and ask about your coverage. Some helpful questions to ask are:
- What coverage do I have for nutrition counseling?
- How much can I expect to pay out of pocket per RD visit, if anything at all?
- Are telehealth services covered for nutrition counseling?
- I have a diagnosis that requires nutrition counseling, what’s covered?
Medicaid, American public health insurance, does cover nutrition counseling, but coverage varies by state, so it’s still wise to check with your provider what exactly is covered.
How do I find a nutritionist?
Finding an in-network provider with the right credentials might seem like a daunting task, but with a tool like Fay Nutrition, it’s simple. Fay Nutrition has a database of vetted registered dietitians which enables you to find an in-network RD by state or service type. If you’re looking for a nutritionist specifically to help you lose weight, support eating disorder recovery, educate you on diabetes management, or offer something else related to your health goals, you can filter your search to find the right provider for your needs. Use Fay to save money while working with a trusted nutritionist provider and get the care you need.