Fay Review: A Dietitian for $0 a Session, Because Your Insurance Probably Already Covers One

This section is worth reading whether or not you use this particular service. Registered dietitian visits are frequently covered, and coverage comes from several directions: Preventive services under the Affordable Care Act. Most non-grandfathered plans must cover certain preventive services without cost sharing — meaning no copay and no deductible. Obesity screening and behavioural counselling for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, and dietary counselling for adults at higher risk of chronic disease, sit in that category. This is the mechanism behind "$0 per session". Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) as a specific benefit. Medicare Part B covers MNT for people with diabetes or chronic kidney disease, and after a kidney transplant, when referred by a doctor. Many commercial plans cover MNT for a wider set of diagnoses. Plan-specific nutrition benefits, which vary enormously and are frequently more generous than people assume. Why almost nobody uses it. The benefit is invisible. It is not advertised by insurers, it is buried in plan documents, and most primary care appointments do not have time to mention it. The referral pathway is also unclear to most patients — many assume they need a referral when their plan does not require one. What to check, and this takes one phone call: Call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask specifically: "Is medical nutrition therapy covered under my plan? What is my cost share? How many visits per year? Do I need a referral or prior authorisation? Is telehealth covered at the same rate?" Ask about CPT codes 97802, 97803 and 97804, which are the MNT codes, and preventive counselling codes. Giving the representative the codes gets you a more precise answer than a general question. Ask whether a diagnosis is required, and if so, which ones qualify. Fay's insurance estimate tool does much of this for you, which is a genuine convenience — but confirm with your insurer directly before your first session, because the estimate is an estimate. And the honest caveat: "as low as $0" means some people pay $0. Others will have a copay, a deductible to meet first, or a plan that does not cover it. A cash-pay option is listed, and cash-pay figures around $50 to $75 appear on the site. Establish your actual number before booking.

This distinction matters more than almost anything else in the nutrition space, and most people have never had it explained. "Registered Dietitian" (RD) and "Registered Dietitian Nutritionist" (RDN) are legally protected credentials in the US. Holding one requires: An accredited degree — a master's degree is now required for new credentialing. A supervised practice programme of at least 1,000 hours. A national registration examination. Continuing professional education to maintain registration. State licensure in most states, with a licensing board you can check and complain to. "Nutritionist", by contrast, is unregulated in many states. In much of the US, anyone can call themselves a nutritionist with no qualification whatsoever — including someone who bought a weekend certificate online. This is the single most useful fact in this review. Fay's network is specifically board-certified registered dietitians, and that is the difference between a clinician and an enthusiast. What RDs are genuinely good at: Medical nutrition therapy for diagnosed conditions — diabetes, chronic kidney disease, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, heart disease, eating disorders. Gut health, done properly. A dietitian can run a structured low-FODMAP elimination and reintroduction for IBS, which is an evidence-based protocol that is genuinely difficult to do alone and easy to do badly. Weight management without the nonsense — including alongside GLP-1 medication, where protein intake and resistance training matter enormously for preserving lean mass, and where most people get no guidance at all. Pregnancy, paediatric feeding, and eating disorders, all of which need qualified support rather than internet advice. Sorting out what a restrictive diet is missing, which is where a lot of quiet harm accumulates. What to expect from a first session: a full history — medical, medication, dietary, lifestyle — and a plan. A dietitian who sells you supplements on the first visit is a warning sign; a dietitian who asks about your medication list and your sleep is doing the job properly.

The process as described: enter your location and insurance, get an estimate, browse dietitians (filterable by specialism), and book. Referral pathways exist for clinicians, and an employer offering is available. Being able to choose your dietitian is a real advantage. Nutrition counselling is a relationship, and specialism matters — a dietitian who works mainly with kidney disease is not the right fit for paediatric feeding difficulties. Filtering by specialism and reading profiles beats being assigned whoever is available. Who this genuinely suits: Anyone with a diagnosed condition where diet matters — diabetes, kidney disease, coeliac, IBD, IBS, high cholesterol, hypertension, PCOS. Anyone on a GLP-1, where the risk of losing lean mass alongside fat is real and largely unaddressed. This is one of the highest-value uses right now and it is badly under-served. Anyone who has been given a diagnosis and a leaflet and told to "eat better". Anyone eating restrictively — for ethical, medical or personal reasons — who wants to know what they are missing. Anyone who has cycled through diets and wants a plan built around what they will actually do. Who should look elsewhere: Anyone in an eating disorder crisis, who needs a specialist multidisciplinary team rather than a general telehealth session. If you are struggling, the National Eating Disorders Association helpline is a starting point. Anyone wanting a prescription — dietitians do not prescribe. Anyone hoping to be told a supplement will fix it. Practical notes before booking: Confirm your dietitian is licensed in your state. Telehealth is generally regulated by the patient's location. Fay's network is nationwide; confirm for yours. Ask how many sessions your plan covers and space them sensibly — a first session plus follow-ups over months beats one appointment. Bring your medication list, recent bloods and a few days of honest food records. The quality of the first session depends almost entirely on what you bring to it. Tell your doctor you are seeing a dietitian, particularly if you take medication whose dose depends on diet — warfarin and vitamin K, diabetes medication and carbohydrate intake, and blood pressure medication and sodium are the classic three.

How much does Fay cost? As low as $0 per session with insurance, depending on your plan and whether you have met your deductible. Cash-pay figures around $50 to $75 appear on the site. Use the estimate tool, then confirm with your insurer. Is a dietitian really covered by my insurance? Often, yes. ACA preventive services cover obesity screening and behavioural counselling and dietary counselling for adults at higher chronic disease risk without cost sharing on most plans. Medicare Part B covers medical nutrition therapy for diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Many commercial plans cover more. What insurance does Fay accept? A long list including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, Carefirst, Cigna, Empire, Florida Blue, Highmark, Horizon, Independence Blue Cross, Optum, Oxford, Regence, United Healthcare and UMR, plus cash pay. Do I need a referral? It depends on your plan. Ask your insurer directly — many people assume they need one when they do not. What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist? Registered Dietitian is a protected credential requiring an accredited degree, supervised practice, a national exam and usually state licensure. "Nutritionist" is unregulated in many states and can be used by anyone. What can a dietitian help with? Medical nutrition therapy for diagnosed conditions, structured low-FODMAP protocols for IBS, weight management including alongside GLP-1 medication, pregnancy and paediatric feeding, and identifying gaps in restrictive diets. Can a dietitian prescribe medication? No. Dietitians do not prescribe. How many sessions do I need? More than one. A first session plus follow-ups spaced over months is far more effective than a single appointment. What should I bring to the first session? Your medication list, recent blood results, and a few days of honest food records. What if I have an eating disorder? Seek specialist multidisciplinary care rather than general nutrition telehealth. The National Eating Disorders Association helpline is a starting point.