Well, HELLOOO dietitians — Amy Plano, The Reimbursement Dietitian.
If your insurance claims are getting denied or your reimbursements are lower than expected, you’re likely skipping a few key steps in your insurance verification process.
And you’re not alone. Many dietitians hate verifying benefits, but if you half-ass this part (which MANY of you are doing), you are literally leaking money.
Let’s fix that today.
Here are the top three mistakes I see when it comes to insurance verification for dietitians — and exactly how to fix them.
❌ Mistake #1: Not Asking About Preventive Coverage
Most dietitians assume you need a diagnosis to bill insurance. But thanks to the Affordable Care Act, many plans actually cover nutrition counseling preventively, especially for conditions like:
- Obesity
- Prediabetes
- General wellness (YAY!)
These visits are often covered at 100% — no copay, no deductible. However, each insurance company has its own definition of preventative. Therefore, if you are not sure what those ICD 10 codes are, check out my CheatSheet HERE.
Questions to ask when verifying insurance benefits:
- “Is nutrition counseling covered preventively under this plan?”
- “Are there any diagnosis codes that allow for zero patient responsibility?”
- “Are benefits available under both preventive and medical coverage?”
If you skip this step, you may be leaving covered visits on the table or unnecessarily charging your clients.
Spoiler alert: Most fully funded group plans have preventive and medical MNT on the policy. Therefore, always confirm both types. Yes. One will have a cost-share. BUT the visits will still be covered.
❌ Mistake #2: Not Confirming Visit Limits
Just because a plan covers Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) doesn’t mean it covers it endlessly.
You need to confirm:
- How many visits are covered per year?
- Is it based on the calendar year or plan year? (Those are NOT the same.)
- Is prior authorization required after a certain number of sessions?
Missing this step can result in denied claims or you being forced to collect large out-of-pocket payments from surprised clients. Not a vibe anyone wants to sign up for.
❌ Mistake #3: Not Recording Reference Numbers
This might seem minor, but it’s HUGE.
You need to confirm:
- The name of the rep you spoke with
- The call reference number
If the insurance company gives you incorrect information — and they will (more than correct information)— this is your proof that you did your due diligence.
Without it? You’re the one stuck footing the bill when a claim is denied.
Bottom Line:
If you’re serious about succeeding with insurance in your nutrition practice, you MUST get your verification game tight.
✅ Ask about preventive AND medical coverage
✅ Confirm visit limits, frequency, and authorizations
✅ Always collect reference numbers from your calls
💥 Ready to Stop Leaking Money?
If you’re still Googling “how to verify benefits as a dietitian,” it’s time to stop winging it.
Inside my Reimbursement Coaching Program, I teach you exactly how to:
- Verify benefits with confidence
- Use proper codes for billing.
- Avoid the most common (and expensive) mistake.s
- Get paid what you deserve — consistently
- Step-by-step training
- A badass RD community
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Let’s get you credentialed, confident, and cashing those insurance checks.
Hugs & High Fives, Amy
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