How Healthcare Advocates Help with Nutrition and Food Security

What this guide covers

If you are managing a chronic condition or struggling to afford nutritious food, a healthcare advocate can connect you to the right services and benefits. This guide explains what Medicare does and does not cover for nutrition, how advocates link you to community meal programs, and practical steps to get help now.

Why nutrition and food security matter for your health

Nutritious food is essential for energy, healing, and staying independent. Food insecurity can worsen chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease and can raise health costs over time. Advocates screen for food needs early, help you apply for assistance, and coordinate clinical nutrition care when your diagnosis qualifies for covered services.

What Medicare covers for nutrition

Medical nutrition therapy with a registered dietitian

If you have diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or you received a kidney transplant in the last thirty six months, Medicare Part B covers medical nutrition therapy when your doctor refers you. Covered time includes a set number of hours in the first year and additional hours in later years, with extra hours when medically necessary. Your advocate can help you get the referral, find an in network dietitian, and prepare for the visit.

Intensive behavioral therapy for obesity

Medicare also covers intensive behavioral therapy for obesity in primary care. Sessions include screening, a nutrition assessment, and counseling that focuses on diet and physical activity. An advocate can confirm eligibility and help schedule the visits.

When meals or groceries may be included through Medicare Advantage

Original Medicare does not cover routine groceries or ongoing meal delivery. Some Medicare Advantage plans can offer supplemental benefits for people with chronic illness, which may include meals, food, or produce when these benefits can reasonably improve health or function. Availability varies by plan and by your health status. An advocate can check your plan documents and request the benefit when you qualify.

What Medicare does not cover and where advocates step in

Routine groceries are not a standard Medicare benefit. If you have a chronic condition, a dietitian can be included, and we can set that up to match your diagnosis and goals. If you are having trouble getting enough food, we can also connect you with agencies that deliver meals to your home, often one or two per day. We do not want you choosing between paying a bill and eating well. Our job is to make sure you are receiving the resources available to you so you can eat nutritious meals regularly. Call us at (646) 904-4027 or visit https://app.understoodcare.com/ and we will help you get started.

Community food programs your advocate can help you access

SNAP for older adults and adults with disabilities

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps eligible households buy food. Rules include special provisions for older adults and adults with disabilities. Your advocate can help you check eligibility and apply with your state agency.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program for seniors

CSFP provides a monthly package of shelf stable, nutritious foods for adults sixty and older through local agencies. An advocate can help you find the nearest site and complete enrollment.

Older Americans Act nutrition services

Local programs provide meals at community sites and home delivered meals for people who qualify. These services also include nutrition screening and education. If you are not sure where to start, an advocate can contact your Area Agency on Aging and place a referral.

Eldercare Locator

You can find local meal programs and aging services by calling 1 800 677 1116 or by using the national Eldercare Locator. Advocates use this tool to identify providers in your area and confirm availability.

Meals on Wheels and other local providers

Many communities deliver nourishing meals along with a friendly check in. Advocates coordinate enrollment, confirm menus that match your health needs, and problem solve around waitlists or special diets.

How your advocate makes this easier

An advocate can

• Screen for food needs and write a clear plan with you
• Confirm Medicare eligibility for dietitian visits and schedule the first appointment
• Gather required paperwork for SNAP or CSFP and submit applications
• Make direct referrals to home delivered meal programs and follow up on waitlists
• Coordinate with your doctor so your diet plan matches your diagnoses and medicines
• Troubleshoot transportation, mobility, or home safety barriers that make cooking hard

Getting a dietitian who fits your diagnosis

A registered dietitian will tailor your plan to your health history, labs, and medicines. If you live with diabetes, kidney disease, heart failure, COPD, or neuropathy, your needs are unique. Your advocate will ask your clinician for a referral when needed and help you prepare.

Bring to the visit

• A list of all medicines and supplements
• Recent labs and blood pressure or glucose logs
• A three day food record including beverages
• Questions about goals that matter most to you

If cooking is hard right now

If you need meals delivered, we will contact providers in your area. That can include Meals on Wheels or another agency that brings ready to eat meals to your home, often once or twice a day. We will confirm nutrition needs such as low sodium, carbohydrate consistent, renal friendly, or blenderized textures and we will check for pet support or friendly visit options if those matter to you.

Simple steps you can take today

• Call us at (646) 904-4027 or sign up for a dedicated appointment at https://app.understoodcare.com/
• Ask your doctor about a referral for medical nutrition therapy if you have diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or a recent kidney transplant
• Gather pay stubs or benefit letters for SNAP and CSFP applications
• Tell your advocate about mobility limits, missing kitchen equipment, or safety concerns so we can add supports like grabbers, a microwave, or a home safety check

Food safety and storage tips

• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold
• Refrigerate leftovers within two hours
• Label containers with the date and use within safe time frames
• Ask delivery volunteers to place meals on the counter if lifting is difficult
• If you have swallowing or dental concerns, ask for softer textures

When to contact us

If you are skipping meals, running low on food, or unsure about coverage for dietitian visits, we are here to help. Call (646) 904-4027 or visit https://app.understoodcare.com/

FAQ

• What is this guide about and who is it for?
  This guide is for older adults and caregivers who are managing chronic conditions or having trouble affording nutritious food. It explains what Medicare does and does not cover for nutrition, how an advocate connects you to community meal programs, and practical steps to get help with food and dietitian care.
• Why are nutrition and food security so important for my health?
  Nutritious food is essential for energy, healing, and staying independent. When you do not have enough food or cannot afford healthy options, conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease can worsen. Food insecurity can also raise health costs and make it harder to follow treatment plans. Advocates screen for food needs early, help you apply for assistance, and connect you with clinical nutrition services when your diagnosis qualifies.
• What nutrition services does Medicare cover with a dietitian?
  Medicare Part B covers medical nutrition therapy with a registered dietitian if you have diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or you received a kidney transplant in the last thirty six months and your doctor refers you. Coverage includes a set number of hours in the first year and additional hours in later years, with more time allowed when medically necessary. An advocate can help you get the referral, find an in network dietitian, and get ready for the visit.
• What is intensive behavioral therapy for obesity under Medicare?
  Medicare covers intensive behavioral therapy for obesity in primary care for people who qualify. These visits can include screening, a nutrition assessment, and counseling that focuses on diet and physical activity. An advocate can check your eligibility, explain the schedule, and assist with booking the appointments.
• Can Medicare Advantage help with meals, groceries, or produce?
  Original Medicare does not cover routine groceries or ongoing meal delivery. Some Medicare Advantage plans can offer special supplemental benefits for people with chronic illness, which may include meals, food boxes, or produce when these benefits are expected to improve health or function. These options vary by plan and by your health status. An advocate can review your plan documents and ask for these benefits when you qualify.
• What nutrition and food supports are not covered by Medicare?
  Routine groceries and most ongoing meal deliveries are not standard Medicare benefits. That is where advocates step in. They help set up covered dietitian care when your diagnosis qualifies and connect you with local agencies that deliver meals to your home. The goal is to help you avoid having to choose between paying bills and eating well, and to make sure you receive every resource available to you.
• What is SNAP and how can it help older adults and adults with disabilities?
  The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps eligible households buy food. There are special provisions for older adults and adults with disabilities that may make qualifying easier than many people think. An advocate can help you check eligibility, gather documents, and apply with your state agency so you do not have to navigate the process alone.
• What is the Commodity Supplemental Food Program for seniors?
  The Commodity Supplemental Food Program provides a monthly package of shelf stable, nutritious foods for adults sixty and older through local agencies. An advocate can help you find the nearest site, explain what comes in the box, and complete enrollment.
• How do Older Americans Act nutrition services support me?
  Local programs funded through the Older Americans Act offer meals at community sites and home delivered meals for people who qualify. They often include nutrition screening and education. If you are unsure where to begin, an advocate can contact your Area Agency on Aging, place a referral, and help you understand options like congregate meals and home delivery.
• How can I use the Eldercare Locator and Meals on Wheels to find help?
  You can find local meal programs and aging services by calling the Eldercare Locator or using the national website. Advocates use this tool to identify providers in your area and confirm availability. Many communities also have Meals on Wheels and similar programs that deliver meals plus a friendly check in. Advocates can coordinate enrollment, confirm menus that match your health needs, and help manage waitlists or special dietary requests.
• How does an advocate make nutrition and food support easier to manage?
  An advocate screens for food needs and writes a clear plan with you. They confirm Medicare eligibility for dietitian visits and schedule the first appointment, gather paperwork for SNAP or CSFP, submit applications, and make direct referrals to home delivered meal programs. They coordinate with your doctor so your diet plan matches your diagnoses and medicines and help address transportation, mobility, or home safety issues that make shopping or cooking hard.
• What should I bring to a dietitian visit and how will it help?
  A registered dietitian tailors your plan to your health history, lab results, and medicines. It helps to bring a list of all medicines and supplements, recent labs and any blood pressure or glucose logs, and a three day food record that includes beverages. You can also bring questions about what matters most to you, such as energy, blood sugar control, swelling, or weight changes. An advocate can help you prepare these materials and feel ready to speak up.
• What if cooking or preparing meals is difficult for me right now?
  If standing, lifting, or cooking is hard, an advocate can contact home delivered meal programs in your area, including Meals on Wheels or similar agencies. They will confirm your nutrition needs such as low sodium, consistent carbohydrates, renal friendly meals, or softer textures and ask about pet support or friendly visits if those matter to you. They can also suggest small equipment changes such as a microwave, safe containers, or reachers that make reheating and storage easier.
• Are there basic food safety and storage tips I should follow with delivered meals?
  Yes. It is important to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, refrigerate leftovers within two hours, and label containers with the date so you can use them within safe time frames. You can ask delivery volunteers to place meals on the counter if lifting is difficult. If you have swallowing or dental concerns, you can request softer textures and discuss them with your clinician or dietitian.
• What simple steps can I take today if I am worried about food or nutrition?
  You can call the advocate number or sign up online for a dedicated appointment, ask your doctor about a referral for medical nutrition therapy if you have diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or a recent kidney transplant, and gather pay stubs or benefit letters that might be needed for SNAP or CSFP applications. It also helps to tell your advocate about mobility limits, missing kitchen equipment, or home safety concerns so they can add the right supports.
• When should I reach out for help with food and nutrition?
  You should contact an advocate if you are skipping meals, running low on food before the end of the month, unsure whether your plan covers dietitian visits, or feeling overwhelmed by applications. Support is available by phone and online so you do not have to face food and nutrition challenges by yourself.

References

• Medicare Part B medical nutrition therapy services
  https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/medical-nutrition-therapy-services Medicare
• CMS National Coverage Determination for medical nutrition therapy visit hours
  https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncd.aspx?ncdid=252 CMS
• Medicare intensive behavioral therapy for obesity
  https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/obesity-behavioral-therapy Medicare
• CMS fact sheet on Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits and SSBCI
  https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/contract-year-2025-medicare-advantage-and-part-d-final-rule-cms-4205-f CMS
• MedPAC report noting meals and produce as allowable SSBCI examples
  https://www.medpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Jun25_Ch2_MedPAC_Report_To_Congress_SEC.pdf MedPAC
• USDA SNAP eligibility and special rules for older adults and adults with disabilities
  https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility Food and Nutrition Service
  https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligibility/elderly-disabled-special-rules Food and Nutrition Service
• USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program overview and factsheet
  https://www.fns.usda.gov/csfp/commodity-supplemental-food-program Food and Nutrition Service
  https://www.fns.usda.gov/csfp/factsheet Food and Nutrition Service
• Administration for Community Living nutrition services under the Older Americans Act
  https://acl.gov/programs/health-wellness/nutrition-services ACL Administration for Community Living
• Eldercare Locator for local aging services
  https://eldercare.acl.gov/home eldercare.acl.gov
• Meals on Wheels research library on outcomes
  https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/our-work/research/ Meals on Wheels America
• CDC and NIH linked research on food insecurity and health
  https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2018/18_0058.htm CDC
  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10972712/ PMC‍

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This content is educational and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized care.