FAIR Health Consumer Access

How Insurance Can Support Healthy Eating

Did you know that your health plan could help you eat healthily? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthy eating can help you live longer. It can also help lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Some health plans will support you to eat healthily. They can do this with meals, counseling, education and food cards.

Medically Tailored Meals (MTMs)
MTMs are meals designed for people with chronic illnesses. Such illnesses include cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. If you have a chronic disease, your health plan may pay for MTMs. These meals are not only healthy but also designed to help your chronic illness. An example from the Food Is Medicine Coalition includes meals with complex carbohydrates (like lentils and beans) to help regulate blood sugar for people with diabetes. Another example is healthy soft foods for people who have trouble swallowing. Ask your health plan if they cover MTMs, and if so, for what conditions.

Dietary and Nutritional Counseling
Most health plans will cover some form of nutritional counseling. This type of counseling can help you find out about healthy food habits and improve your overall health. However, some plans may only cover it for people with specific conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease or chronic kidney disease. Nutrition counseling can also help you plan healthy meals if you have other concerns. These could be food allergies, pregnancy, children’s diets, sports nutrition or weight management. You’ll have to check your plan to see what they cover. You should also check what providers are covered. Some plans will only cover registered dietitians or licensed nutritionists. And you may need a referral from your doctor.

Healthy Eating Education
Health plans sometimes promote healthy eating through workplace wellness programs. These can include nutrition workshops. They can also include cooking classes and nutrition coaching. Ask your plan and your employer about wellness benefits.

Healthy Food Cards
Some health plans cover healthy food cards. These cards may give you a discount on healthy foods. Or they may be prepaid by your health plan, so you can use them to buy healthy foods directly. There are often rules about where you can use them—not every grocery store accepts them. Typically, you can only use them to buy healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy and lean meat. And often you’ll have to meet certain requirements to get a healthy food card. These could include being over the age of 60, having a low income or having a chronic condition. Women with a high-risk pregnancy or young people aging out of foster care may also be eligible under some plans. Talk to your provider and health plan about whether you qualify.

Medicaid and Medicare Coverage for Healthy Eating
Medicaid coverage varies by state. Some state’s Medicaid programs cover nutritional counseling. Some cover MTMs and prescriptions for fruits and vegetables. You’ll need to check with your Medicaid agency to find out what’s covered in your state.

Medicare will cover medical nutrition therapy if you have diabetes or kidney disease. Medicare will also cover diabetes self-management services, which include healthy eating advice. If you have a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan (SNP), you may qualify for the Medicare Grocery Allowance. This is a prepaid card that allows you to buy healthy foods.

Dual Eligibility. If you have both Medicaid and Medicare coverage, you may be eligible for a type of SNP called the Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan. As part of this plan, you can get a healthy food allowance. You may also be able to get a healthy food card.