Nutrition counseling has historically been either expensive out of pocket or buried under layers of insurance bureaucracy that make it hardly worth the effort. Most people who would benefit from working with a registered dietitian never do, simply because the process of finding one, verifying insurance coverage, and scheduling appointments feels overwhelming. Fay was built to solve exactly that problem.
We researched the platform, examined how their insurance billing works, and looked at the breadth of specialties covered. Here is our honest take on whether Fay delivers on its promise of making professional nutrition counseling accessible and affordable.
What Is Fay?
Fay is a nutrition care platform that connects you with board-certified registered dietitians who are covered by your health insurance. The platform works with over 4,000 dietitians nationwide and accepts more than 700 insurance plans, making it one of the largest insurance-covered nutrition counseling networks in the United States.
The key distinction is that Fay is not a meal plan app or a generic wellness platform. Every provider on the platform is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) — a licensed healthcare professional with clinical training in nutrition science. Sessions can be conducted online via video or in person, depending on availability in your area.
The company recently raised $50 million in Series B funding led by Goldman Sachs, signaling significant institutional confidence in the model.
How Fay Works
The process is designed to be as frictionless as possible, especially compared to the traditional route of calling your insurance company, requesting a list of in-network dietitians, and then cold-calling offices to find one accepting new patients. Fay reduces this to three steps:
Step 1: Find Your Dietitian. You search by your insurance plan, location, health goals, and preferred specialty. The platform matches you with in-network dietitians who specialize in your specific needs — whether that is weight management, diabetes, gut health, or prenatal nutrition.
Step 2: Meet Online or In Person. Schedule a session at a time that works for you. Most sessions are available via video call, making it convenient regardless of where you live. In-person options are also available in many markets.
Step 3: Insurance Handles the Bill. Fay manages the insurance billing on your behalf. Depending on your specific plan and benefits, sessions can cost as little as $0 out of pocket. Even if your plan has a copay, it is typically far less than the $150-$300 per session that dietitians commonly charge without insurance.
What Specialties Does Fay Cover?
One of Fay's strengths is the breadth of conditions and health goals their dietitians address. The platform covers more than 30 specialties, including:
| Category | Specialties |
|---|---|
| Weight Management | Weight loss, weight gain, bariatric surgery support, GLP-1 medication support (Ozempic, Wegovy) |
| Chronic Conditions | Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, kidney disease |
| Digestive Health | IBS, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, GERD, SIBO, food intolerances |
| Women's Health | PCOS, pregnancy and postpartum nutrition, menopause, fertility |
| Mental Health & Eating | Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating), emotional eating, intuitive eating |
| Performance & Lifestyle | Sports nutrition, plant-based diets, pediatric nutrition, senior nutrition, food allergies |
This range is significantly wider than what most people expect from nutrition counseling. Many users find Fay when searching for help with a specific condition like PCOS or diabetes, only to discover that their insurance covers ongoing sessions with a specialist dietitian.
Insurance Coverage and Pricing
Fay's pricing model is built around insurance. The platform accepts over 700 insurance plans, including major national carriers:
- Anthem
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- United Healthcare
- Aetna
- Cigna
- And hundreds more regional and employer-sponsored plans
Here is how the cost typically breaks down:
| Scenario | Typical Cost Per Session |
|---|---|
| Insurance with $0 copay for nutrition | $0 |
| Insurance with standard specialist copay | $20 - $50 |
| Insurance with coinsurance (after deductible) | $30 - $80 |
| Before deductible is met | $100 - $200 (applied to deductible) |
| Without insurance (out-of-pocket) | $150 - $300 |
Many people do not realize that nutrition counseling is covered under most health insurance plans, especially for conditions with a medical diagnosis code like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, or PCOS. Fay's platform surfaces this benefit and handles the administrative work that typically prevents people from using it.
The Fay App: Tracking Between Sessions
Beyond the sessions themselves, Fay offers a companion mobile app that helps you stay on track between appointments. The app includes:
- Progress tracking: Log meals, symptoms, and health metrics your dietitian can review
- Secure messaging: Communicate with your dietitian between sessions for quick questions
- Goal rewards: Gamification elements that reward you for hitting nutrition targets
- Session scheduling: Book, reschedule, and manage upcoming appointments
The app transforms what would otherwise be isolated hourly consultations into an ongoing coaching relationship with accountability built in.
How Fay Compares to Alternatives
| Feature | Fay | Noom | Private Dietitian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider Type | Board-certified RDN | Health coaches (not dietitians) | Board-certified RDN |
| Insurance Covered | Yes (700+ plans) | No | Sometimes (you verify) |
| Cost | As low as $0 | $70 - $209/month | $150 - $300/session |
| Personalization | 1-on-1 clinical nutrition | App-based curriculum | 1-on-1 clinical nutrition |
| Specialties | 30+ clinical areas | Weight loss focus | Varies by provider |
| Insurance Billing | Handled by Fay | N/A | You handle it |
| Session Format | Video or in-person | App + coaching calls | In-person or video |
Fay's biggest advantage over wellness apps like Noom is that you are working with a licensed clinical professional, not a health coach. The biggest advantage over finding a private dietitian on your own is that Fay handles the insurance verification and billing — the step that stops most people from ever booking a session.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Sessions as low as $0 with insurance coverage
- 4,000+ board-certified registered dietitians
- 700+ insurance plans accepted
- 30+ clinical specialties covered
- Fay handles all insurance billing
- Video and in-person sessions available
- Companion app for between-session tracking
- 4.96-star rating from 5,000+ reviews
- Goldman Sachs-backed ($50M Series B)
Cons
- Availability varies by location and insurance plan
- Pre-deductible costs can still be significant
- Not all specialties available in every area
- No self-pay option prominently marketed
- Some insurance plans may require a referral from your PCP
Who Is Fay Best For?
Based on our research, Fay provides the most value for:
- People with health insurance who have never used their nutrition counseling benefit — this is the core use case, and many people are surprised to learn they are already covered
- Anyone managing a chronic condition like diabetes, PCOS, heart disease, or digestive disorders where medical nutrition therapy is a recognized treatment
- People taking GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro) who need dietary guidance to maximize results and manage side effects
- New or expectant parents seeking prenatal, postpartum, or pediatric nutrition support
- People recovering from eating disorders who need a licensed professional rather than a wellness app
- Athletes and fitness enthusiasts who want evidence-based sports nutrition guidance
Fay is less ideal for people who are looking for a quick meal plan generator or a calorie-counting app. The platform is built around ongoing clinical relationships, not one-size-fits-all diet programs.
What to Expect in Your First Session
If you have never seen a dietitian before, the first session typically runs 45-60 minutes and follows a structured format:
- Health history review: Your dietitian will go over your medical history, current medications, lab results, and any diagnoses
- Dietary assessment: A detailed look at your current eating patterns, food preferences, allergies, and lifestyle factors
- Goal setting: Together, you will establish specific, measurable nutrition goals aligned with your health priorities
- Initial plan: Your dietitian will outline a personalized nutrition approach — not a rigid diet, but a flexible framework built around your life
Follow-up sessions are typically 30 minutes and focus on progress review, troubleshooting challenges, and adjusting the plan as needed. Most insurance plans cover ongoing sessions, so this becomes an iterative coaching relationship rather than a one-time consultation.
Final Verdict
Fay solves a real problem: the gap between knowing you should see a dietitian and actually doing it. By handling insurance verification, provider matching, and billing, the platform removes the administrative barriers that keep most people from using a benefit they are already paying for through their premiums.
The quality of the provider network is strong — 4,000+ registered dietitians with clinical specializations is a meaningful selection, and the 4.96-star rating across 5,000+ reviews suggests consistent satisfaction. The companion app adds accountability that makes the investment in sessions more likely to produce lasting results.
If you have health insurance and have been considering nutrition counseling for any reason — weight management, a chronic condition, digestive issues, or even just wanting to eat better — checking your coverage through Fay takes only a few minutes and could connect you with professional help at little to no cost.
Check If Your Insurance Covers Nutrition Counseling
Find an in-network registered dietitian through Fay and see if you qualify for sessions as low as $0.
Find a Dietitian Near You



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