Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, for Dietitian (Medical Nutrition Therapy) visits!

We are in-network with some carriers:

• United Healthcare
• Aetna
• Cigna
• Anthem / Blue Cross Blue Shield

Important: We are not in-network with every plan under these carriers. To confirm coverage, ask your insurance if we are in-network using:

Practice Name: Essential Nutrition
Tax ID: 72-1619509
Group NPI: 1104043553
Individual Dietitian NPI: Please contact our office to obtain this

Plans We Do NOT Accept

• Medicare
• Medicaid
• Humana
• Kaiser
• Tricare

If you have one of these, contact us; we can still discuss other options.

What Will Insurance Pay?

Your cost depends on your specific insurance plan. You may have:

• A copay (fixed fee per visit)
• A coinsurance (percentage of the visit cost)
• A deductible (amount you must pay before insurance starts covering visits)

Even if you have nutrition benefits, coverage is NOT guaranteed.

What to Ask Your Insurance (Very Important)

Before your appointment, call your insurance and ask:

• Do I have nutrition counseling benefits?
• Are these CPT codes covered?
  1. 97802 (initial visit)
  2. 97803 (follow-up visits)
• Do I need a medical diagnosis for coverage?
• Do I need a referral or prior authorization?
• Are there visit limits (how many sessions per year)?
• Is telehealth (virtual visits) covered, or in-person only?
• Do I have a deductible, and has it been met?

Diagnosis Codes (Why They Matter)

Some insurance plans only cover visits if you have a medical diagnosis (like diabetes, kidney disease, etc.).

If you have United, Aetna, or Cigna:

• Contact your doctor to get your diagnosis code(s) before your first visit
• This can improve your chances of coverage

Important Coverage Notes

• Insurance quotes over the phone from your carrier are not a guarantee of payment
• Coverage depends on:
  • Your specific plan
  • Diagnosis code used
  • Procedure code billed
  • Medical necessity

Claims can still be denied even if benefits were quoted!

In-Person vs Telehealth

Some plans:

• Only cover in-person visits (Boulder or Denver)
• Others allow telehealth (virtual visits)

Be sure to confirm this with your insurance.

Out-of-Network Benefits

If we are not in-network with your plan:

• You can still see us as a self-pay patient
• We can provide a superbill for you to submit for possible reimbursement

Medicare & Medicaid

• We are not providers for Medicare or Medicaid
• We cannot bill these plans, even if they are through another insurer (like United)

Contact us to discuss alternative options.

Nutrition Coaching (Non-Insurance)

• Coaching services are self-pay only (out-of-network)
• Contact us for pricing, programs, and memberships
• Get the help you need without insurance directing care or dictating how much care you can receive!

Need Help?
Insurance can be confusing; we’re happy to help you understand your benefits before your first visit.

Dietitian Care:

For your first visit, whether it is at our office or by phone* or telehealth, we will be reviewing your completed medical forms (accessible via our secure HIPAA-compliant web-based patient portal), recent medical tests (if applicable), current food intake, medical history, health concerns, dietary supplement use, and your desired health outcomes. Together, we will devise a plan for moving forward. While specific recommendations and directives may be given at your first appointment, our initial consultation is typically an interview style appointment. *Phone consults are not covered by insurance plans.

Coaching Care:

All our coaching sessions are offered virtually to help us keep costs contained. For your first telehealth visit, we will be reviewing your dietary intake, providing you with nutrient intake results, and helping you set effective goals and desired health outcomes. Together, we will establish a pattern of communication that best helps you stay focused and on track to achieving your goals. While specific recommendations may be given at your first appointment, our initial session is typically an interview style appointment to gain clarity and set your course of care.

Dietitian Care:

Yes, in addition to weekday nutrition appointments, we also offer evening and Saturday morning appointments, either in person at the office, or by phone or telehealth. Appointment times vary by provider.

Coaching Care:

Yes, by phone or telehealth only. Appointment times vary by coach.

Dietitian Care:

Absolutely! We believe one of the most effective ways to help our clients is to communicate directly with their other practitioners. We can provide our own professional insight and recommendations, as well as coordinate care with other providers, to ensure you receive the most comprehensive care possible.

Coaching Care:

We are happy to provide you with documents and notes that you are welcome to share with any other provider. Coaches do not typically coordinate care as dietitians do. Please let us know if you have specific needs around this so we can help as best we can.

Dietitian Care:

While both research and our clinical experience show that patients tend to achieve the best results with regular follow-up visits, we do not require or lock you into a specific number of appointments.

You’re welcome to discuss your goals and preferences with your dietitian during your visit. If you feel that a single session will meet your needs, we will do our best to accommodate that.

That said, for more complex health concerns or detailed nutrition plans, it can be challenging to address everything in one appointment. In these cases, one or two follow-up visits may be recommended to ensure you receive the most thorough and effective care possible.

Coaching Care:

While both research and our clinical experience show that people are most successful with ongoing support, we do not require or lock you into a set number of coaching sessions.

We offer flexible options to meet your needs. You can choose à la carte services and pay only for the sessions you use, or opt for a more cost-effective membership, where your investment goes further. Our memberships include up to 4 hours of 1:1 coaching per month, along with access to online groups and classes for additional support and accountability.

Because lasting changes in habits, motivation, and lifestyle take time, many clients benefit from consistent guidance—which we strongly encourage; but the level of support you choose is entirely up to you.

Please contact our office for more details. We’re happy to help you find the option that best fits your goals and preferences.