Nutritional counseling is an alternative procedure that may be used in different medical conditions, especially weight loss and fertility problems. The nutritionist will recommend a few foods or prescribe a diet that may increase fertility and help the couple conceive. 1 or both partners may benefit from nutritional counseling for fertility.
Cost of Nutritional Counseling
Nutritional counseling may be used to help patients lose weight or improve fertility. Obesity is a contributing factor that can affect fertility. However, even people that are at a normal weight may use nutritional counseling, to get informed on foods or diets that can boost fertility and make them healthier.
The cost of a single nutritional counseling session may vary and may be anywhere between $25 and $200. There may also be nutritionists charging higher prices per session.
Factors Determining the Cost of Nutritional Counseling
The total cost of nutritional counseling may depend on a few factors:
- The number of sessions the patient/couple needs to attend. Typically, a nutritional counseling treatment may include 1 initial session and several follow up sessions. If used for weight loss purposes, the nutritional counseling treatment may be made up of weekly or bi-monthly sessions.
- Whether 1 or both partners are involved in the nutritional counseling treatment.
- The fees of the nutritionist, which may vary according to experience, prestige, training and credentials of the professional
- The geographical location (some areas may be more expensive)
- Whether the initial consultation is free
- The duration of a nutritional counseling session (may be between 30 and 90 minutes). Some practitioners may charge per minute, while others can only charge for each 30 minutes.
- The type of nutritional counseling provided.
Additional Costs
The costs of nutritional counseling will not include the costs of the products recommended by the nutritionist. The patient will need to invest in a few products recommended (i.e. vitamins, herbal remedies). The patient will also have to get certain foods (i.e. organic food), which can cost more than the normal food the patient normally opts for.
Insurance Coverage
The insurance provider may cover percentages of the nutritional counseling treatment. However, the nutritional counseling may not be covered at all. It all depends on whether the treatment is necessary. For instance, if the fertility problems are a consequence of an underlying medical condition, the costs will be covered by insurance.
Nutritional Counseling Financing
Most commonly patients will use a credit card to cover for the costs of a nutritional counseling session. Typically, the patient will be charged after each session, but some practitioners may also offer discounts if the entire treatment is paid in full at the beginning of the treatment.
Financing options should be available at the nutritional counseling clinic. A loan may also be obtained from a financial institution. Typically, medical loans will not need a great deal of paperwork and will be approved if the patient has a good credit history.
