It’s a big question: How do I stick to a healthy diet? Making sure you have a healthy diet can be challenging. It’s hard to deal with cravings or those social situations that make it difficult to make healthy choices.
If you want to eat a healthy diet to feel better, improve your workouts, manage your weight or reduce your risk of illness, you may want to seek out some support and assistance. You can always try to get help from friends and family, but have you considered working with a registered dietitian for additional guidance?
Why you should use a Dietitian
Dietitians are healthcare professionals who specialize in nutrition and dietetics and can work with you to create a healthy eating plan. They provide evidence-based advice on a range of nutrition-related topics and can support you with
Personalized Nutrition Plans
Dietitians can create tailored meal plans that meet your specific health needs and goals. This can be particularly helpful if you have dietary restrictions or chronic conditions.
Expert Guidance
Dietitians are trained professionals who can provide evidence-based advice on nutrition and healthy eating habits. They can help you navigate through the myriads of diet trends and fads.
Chronic Disease Management
If you have conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or chronic pain, a dietitian can help manage these through proper nutrition, potentially reducing symptoms and improving your quality of life.
Weight Management
Whether you need to lose weight, gain weight, or maintain a healthy weight, dietitians can provide strategies and support to help you achieve your goals.
Improved Mental Health
Good nutrition is linked to better mental health. Dietitians can help you make dietary changes that may improve your mood and overall well-being.
Preventive Care
Dietitians can help you adopt healthier eating habits that can prevent future health issues, ensuring long-term wellness.
According to www.dietitians.ca a Registered Dietitian will have ‘RD’ after their name if they are qualified and experienced nutrition expert, belonging to governed body, like the College of Dietitians of Ontario. As a regulated health professional, a dietitian has a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, specializing in food and nutrition, as well as a period of practical training in a hospital and/or community setting. They have passed an in-depth licensing exam, are subject to audits to ensure a high standard of care and must participate in ongoing professional development to assure they keep abreast of new advancements.
A Nutritionist, on the other hand, may have different levels of training and knowledge and may or may not be an RD – so don’t forget to ask them.
You don’t need a doctor’s referral to work with a dietician, but with your written permission, they can collaborate with your doctor, psychotherapist, or any other health professional so you can receive the best overall care.
Is working with a Dietician covered by my health insurance?
When you begin working with a Dietician, you will have an initial nutrition consultation with them to talk about your needs and goals; what you hope to achieve from seeing them. You will then have some follow-up sessions, where you’ll be offered on-going support and education to help you overcome barriers along the way, create additional goals, and sustain changes for long-term success. These sessions are usually recommended to continue until you feel your goals have been met and you are able to consistently follow the healthy eating pattern you desire.
When you choose to work with a dietician you are receiving private practice nutritional counselling – and private health care is not covered by your government health plan. That’s why your health insurance plan may cover some of the costs for your sessions – which can range from $80 to $500 depending on your needs.
To get the most from your health insurance coverage, it’s important to understand what your plan allows for under the extended healthcare benefits including
- The annual coverage (dollar amount)
- How much of your session cost will be covered (100%? Or 80%)
- If there is a coverage dollar limit for the initial session, or for the follow-up sessions.
The coverage limit varies from one health insurance company and plan to the next – so know what you have before you contact your Dietician.
Get even more support with health insurance
Health and dental insurance coverage is affordable for you and your family, and it helps take the financial risk out of taking care of many aspects of your health. In fact, you can be reimbursed for many routine and unexpected health-related expenses that are not covered by your government health insurance.
Your coverage is portable, which means it goes with you as you change jobs or even if your health changes. Putting your own individual coverage in place ensures that you can be continuously covered regardless of where you work, or if you are working at all (and that helps you be financially secure).
You can choose coverage for the health benefits you want most, like major dental costs, psychologist visits or increasingly popular alternative therapies like visits to chiropractors, physiotherapists, or massage therapists.
An individual health insurance plan can be designed to co-ordinate with your employer coverage to increase overall protection.
If you are in good health now, you have the freedom to choose the best policy possible and the security of knowing you can keep it for life, regardless of whether you have other health insurance in place or not. If you have health concerns, you are eligible for guaranteed issue plans for your coverage needs.
It’s available no matter when you decide you need it, from age 18 when you may exit your parents’ coverage, during work transitions throughout your life, and even into your 60s and 70s.
Most plans include telehealth consultation resources so you can discuss health concerns easily and conveniently with medical professionals without having to travel to seek medical help and include apps with trusted online health information resources on your phone or desktop.
Other paramedical coverage includes massage and chiropractic therapy to ease joint and muscle pain, physiotherapy and mental health support including online and live psychotherapy.
Get support for your healthy living today with health insurance
Health insurance can deliver the support essential to a healthy life. SBIS makes it easy to find the best health insurance solution online or contact us for expert guidance. We’re happy to help.
