Information About Insurance
Preventive Health Services
As part of the essential health benefits, all health insurance plans must cover a set of preventive services — at no cost to you.
These services are free, even if you haven’t met your deductible, only when delivered by a doctor or other provider in your plan’s network.
In some cases, you may opt to file a claim with your insurance provider for services out of network.
As of 2017, these are the 18 free preventive services for all adults as outlined by Healthcare.gov:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm one-time screening (for men of specified ages who have ever smoked)
- Alcohol misuse screening and counseling
- Aspirin use to prevent cardiovascular disease (for men and women of certain ages)
- Blood pressure screening
- Cholesterol screening (for adults of certain ages or at higher risk)
- Colorectal cancer screening (for adults over 50)
- Depression screening
- Diabetes (Type 2) screening (for adults with high blood pressure)
- Diet counseling (for adults at higher risk for chronic disease)
- Hepatitis B screening (for people at high risk, including people from countries with 2% or more Hepatitis B prevalence, and U.S.-born people not vaccinated as infants and with at least one parent born in a region with 8% or more Hepatitis B prevalence)
- Hepatitis C screening (for adults at increased risk, and one time for everyone born 1945 – 1965)
- HIV screening (for everyone ages 15 to 65, and other ages at increased risk)
- Immunization vaccines (for adults — doses, recommended ages, and recommended populations vary)
- Lung cancer screening (for adults 55 – 80 at high risk for lung cancer because they’re heavy smokers or have quit in the past 15 years)
- Obesity screening and counseling
- Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention counseling (for adults at higher risk)
- Syphilis screening (for adults at higher risk)
- Tobacco Use screening (for all adults and cessation interventions for tobacco users)
Women have their own set of free preventive care benefits.
Many of these are related to pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraception, as well as gender-specific cancers and sexually transmitted diseases.
Children also have their own set of free preventive care benefits.
These tend to center around well-child visits, immunization vaccines, behavioral issues, developmental disorders and screenings for common chronic illnesses that can develop in children.
Alternative Medicine and Insurance Coverage
Health insurers can limit coverage they deem experimental or not medically necessary, and they often do.
Even when services are covered by an insurance plan, the insurer may require a statement of medical necessity or prescription from a primary care doctor.
The coverage may also limit visits or cover only some of the services the provider offers.
Knowing Your Coverage Details
Health insurance coverage for alternative medicine is a mixed bag, varying from policy to policy. Your best bet is to make some phone calls and ask the right questions before making an appointment with a practitioner.
Call your insurance company.
Ask your insurer the following questions:
- Am I covered for these services?
- Do I need a referral or prescription from my general practitioner?
- Am I limited to a certain number of visits?
- What are some local providers in my policy network?
You may request from my office a "super bill" for services rendered in order to submit a claim to your insurance company. I am happy to provide you with as much documentation about your nutrition services in order to help you secure a reimbursement.
At the time of registration for any nutrition program, additional insurance resources will be provided to you.
There is no guarantee of any insurance coverage or reimbursement for nutrition services.
Licensure
It is a fact that Colorado is one of the states which operates by having no license board and statute for a nutritionist. This means that there is no nutritionist certification in Colorado.
In many cases, insurance companies will work only with a licensed health care provider. By definition, this means that a holistic nutritionist will not be covered by your insurance.
However, I still think it makes sense to ask if services can be covered - suggest that nutrition services are considered "out of network" and see what your insurance plan counselor can tell you about benefits.
Board Certification
In 2015, I became Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition® - a credential which demonstrates that I have achieved the highest level of professional recognition (validating my knowledge and experience) in the holistic nutrition industry.
Being Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition® enables me to serve you with the best, most current research and advanced nutritional science.
To maintain this designation, I am required to take part in and document numerous continuing education units every two years.
Board certification proves that I am aware of and conduct my nutrition business within the legal scope of service and standards of professional conduct.
I am a professional member in good standing with the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP).
