Are Nutritionists & Dietitians Covered by Insurance?
Written by Isabel Vasquez RD, LDN
Diet-related diseases like heart disease and diabetes are some of the most common chronic disease in the U.S., but many people get nutrition information from unreliable sources online. Not only is lots of the information online (on social media in particular) false, it’s also not individualized.
When you work with a dietitian, you receive individualized, evidence-based support. Sometimes, it may be for a chronic disease like diabetes or high cholesterol, while other times you may need help with an eating disorder, a poor relationship with food, or general healthy eating tips.
Health insurance can be tough to navigate, but did you know that you may be able to have sessions with a dietitian covered by your insurance?
Learn the difference between a nutritionist and dietitian, which one can accept insurance, and how to use your insurance to pay for nutrition sessions.
Nutritionist vs Registered Dietitian
Before we dive into insurance coverage for nutrition visits, it’s important to understand the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian.
All registered dietitians ARE nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. Registered dietitians undergo extensive training and education including 3–6 years of coursework and 1200+ hours of supervised practice.
They must also pass a board exam and complete 75 continuing education credits every 5 years to maintain their credential. As a result of their extensive training, dietitians are allowed to practice medical nutrition therapy.
Nutritionists, on the other hand, may not receive any formal training. Technically, they may not be licensed to treat anything. The rules about who can claim to be a nutritionist vary depending on the state, so in some states, someone can declare themselves a “nutritionist” without any formal or evidence-based training.
Other times, nutritionists are people who have a degree in nutrition but didn’t complete 1200+ hours of supervised practice and sit for the board exam to become a dietitian. They can provide general nutrition education but they can’t provide medical nutrition therapy.
Are Nutritionists Covered By Insurance?
Nutritionists are typically not covered by insurance since they don’t necessarily have any credentials. They may not be licensed healthcare providers.
If a nutritionist is also a licensed healthcare provider (say, if they’re also a nurse or doctor) then their services may be covered, but likely billed differently than a dietitian.
Are Dietitians Covered By Insurance?
Dietitian sessions are typically covered by insurance. Some plans will cover a certain number of visits for preventative care and others will cover sessions if you have a nutrition-related disease or diagnosis.
Of course, whether or not your insurance covers dietitian sessions varies on your insurance provider and your plan. You can always call your insurance provider and inquire about your nutrition benefits.
They may need to know your diagnosis code (which you can get from your doctor) if you have a health condition to verify your benefits.
For example, some insurance providers we work with cover six nutrition visits per year for every client no matter their health status; whereas others require a diagnosis code and will cover lots more sessions annually.
How To Find A Dietitian That Accepts Insurance
Not all dietitians choose to accept insurance, so you’ll have to be sure the one you choose is in-network with your insurance provider.
That being said, finding a dietitian that accepts your insurance is now easier than ever. There are a few different online services that connect clients with dietitians who accept their insurance.
Here at Your Latina Nutrition, we have a team of Latina registered dietitians who can see clients for online sessions in 12+ states. We are currently in-network with Aetna, Anthem, Amerihealth, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Cigna, United Healthcare, Highmark, Sana Benefits, & UPMC. Verifying your benefits is easy; you can do so here.
You can also always contact your insurance provider and ask for a list of registered dietitians in-network near you.
Paying Out Of Pocket For Nutrition Sessions
Some insurance plans don’t cover nutrition sessions and some dietitians don’t accept insurance. Even those that do accept insurance may also offer out-of-pocket pay options if they don’t take your specific insurance plan or you want to continue sessions beyond those covered by your insurance.
Many dietitians can provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance provider for out-of-network benefits, if that’s relevant for your insurance plan. You can contact your insurance provider to inquire about your out-of-network coverage for nutrition sessions.
The out-of-pocket cost for a dietitian session varies based on the dietitian and where you’re located. Many dietitians charge between $100–$150 per session, and some offer sliding scale rates or lower-cost services for those who can’t afford to pay the full cost of a session.
Final Thoughts
Working with a dietitian can help you learn about nutrition and make positive behavior changes in your life. Paying out of pocket may be inaccessible for some, but many times insurance covers dietitian sessions, particularly if you have a diet-related disease diagnosis.
To see if you qualify for insurance-based online nutrition sessions with Your Latina Nutrition, verify your insurance benefits here.
For meal inspiration plus education on how to ADD nutrition to your favorite Latine cultural dishes and focus on your health without dieting, check out our nutrition library.
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