If you are trying to lose weight, Medicare covers counseling to help, and for most people it costs nothing. It is called obesity behavioral therapy, and Part B treats it as a preventive service. This guide explains what it includes, who qualifies, where you can get it, and why it is free.
What Medicare covers
Obesity behavioral therapy is a Part B preventive service aimed at helping you lose weight through changes you can sustain. It includes:
- An initial screening to check your body mass index (BMI).
- Behavioral therapy sessions that include a dietary assessment and counseling focused on diet and exercise.
The goal is practical support over time, working on eating habits and physical activity, rather than a one-time conversation. Because it is a preventive service, the cost is structured to remove the usual barriers.
Who qualifies and where to get it
Two conditions decide whether Medicare covers this counseling.
First, eligibility is based on weight: you qualify if you have a BMI of 30 or more. Your provider can calculate your BMI as part of the initial screening.
Second, the setting matters. Medicare covers the counseling when your primary care doctor or other primary care practitioner provides it in a primary care setting, such as a doctor's office. That requirement exists so the counseling connects to your personalized prevention plan and the rest of your care. Counseling delivered outside a primary care setting is not covered the same way.
What it costs
Here is the part that surprises people in a good way: you pay nothing for obesity behavioral therapy as long as your primary care provider accepts assignment. As a preventive service, it is not subject to the Part B deductible or the usual 20% coinsurance.
It is worth a quick check with the office that your provider accepts assignment before your visit, since that is the condition attached to the $0 cost.
| What to know | |
|---|---|
| What it includes | A BMI screening, plus behavioral therapy with a dietary assessment and diet-and-exercise counseling |
| Who qualifies | People with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more |
| Where | Provided by a primary care provider in a primary care setting |
| Your cost | $0 if your primary care provider accepts assignment |
| Separate from | Coverage of anti-obesity or GLP-1 drugs, which follow different rules |
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Medicare Part B covers obesity behavioral therapy, a preventive service that includes a BMI screening and behavioral counseling with a dietary assessment to help you lose weight through diet and exercise. You pay nothing if your primary care provider accepts assignment.
You qualify if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. The counseling must be provided by your primary care doctor or other primary care practitioner in a primary care setting, so it stays connected to your prevention plan.
Nothing, in most cases. As a preventive service, it is covered at no cost to you as long as your primary care provider accepts assignment, with no Part B deductible or coinsurance.
No. Obesity behavioral therapy is counseling, and it is separate from how Medicare handles anti-obesity or GLP-1 medications. Those drugs follow different rules, which our weight-loss drugs guide explains.
Learn More
- What Is Medicare? Parts A, B, C, and D explained
- Medicare preventive services you can get for free
- Does Medicare cover GLP-1 and weight-loss drugs?
- What Medicare covers for diabetes
If you want help losing weight and want to know what Medicare will cover, find personalized guidance at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.