There are some restrictions on what Medicare covers regarding nutrition care. Medicare Part B only covers dietitian services for individuals who have diabetes or kidney disease with a referral from a physician. Medicare also covers nutrition therapy for post-kidney transplant patients within three years of receiving the transplant.

In addition, the visit must be conducted by a registered dietitian (RD) or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). Nutrition counseling conducted by a dietitian is known as medical nutrition therapy (MNT).

Covered services include the initial nutrition consultation as well as follow-up visits in both individual and group settings. Medicare covers up to three hours of nutrition counseling in the first year of establishing care with a dietitian. Up to two hours per year are covered in the following years. You may qualify for additional hours if your doctor requests an exception due to a change in your condition.

Some people have a secondary insurance plan in addition to Medicare, and these plans tend to cover a broader range of diagnoses for nutrition services. If you don’t have insurance coverage for medical nutrition therapy through Medicare, you may be able to get it through your secondary insurance.

If you are paying for your dietitian appointment out-of-pocket, the cost will vary depending on your location and the provider's credentials. On average, you can expect to pay between $100 and $200 for an initial consultation with a dietitian. Fees may be greater if you live in a high-cost-of-living area.

With Nourish, we work with you to maximize your insurance coverage, with most of our patients paying $0 out-of-pocket. If you have a diagnosis other than diabetes or kidney disease, a video visit with your dietitian costs just $145, regardless of your location.