Key takeaways:
Medically tailored meals (MTMs) are a “food as medicine” approach for people who have difficulty grocery shopping and cooking because of their health. These programs offer meal planning and counseling from registered dietitian nutritionists.
MTM programs often serve people with specific conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes and cancer.
Some Medicaid programs and Medicare Advantage plans cover MTM programs for certain enrollees, such as people who have been recently discharged from a hospital or nursing home.
Some commercial health plans have pilot programs that deliver nourishing meals to enrollees. This can improve health outcomes and reduce food insecurity.
Medically tailored meals (MTMs) are created by a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) to meet your nutrition needs. These personalized programs are available to eligible people with health conditions, such as heart failure and cancer, that make it hard to shop or cook.
Nutrition and healthy eating go hand in hand. Poor nutrition leads to 500,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. MTMs help people with certain medical conditions get meals that support their health.
Often, the “food is medicine” or “food as medicine” intervention is prescribed by a physician. Many programs are accredited by the Food Is Medicine Coalition, which sets quality standards. Depending on where you live, you may also have access to food banks or home-delivery meal providers.
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What are medically tailored meals?
MTMs follow evidence-based nutrition guidelines for specific diagnoses. One example is the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet for people with high blood pressure. MTMs are designed by RDNs, which sets them apart from standard meal-delivery services.
There are three main types of MTMs:
Meals for chronic conditions: These meals help people manage their illness by meeting their specific nutrition needs.
Meals for postdischarge: These short-term meal plans support recovery after a hospital or nursing home stay.
Meals for food insecurity: There are vouchers or medically tailored groceries for people with conditions who struggle to afford food.
Examples of MTM programs include:
Meals on Wheels available nationwide
God’s Love We Deliver based in New York City
Open Hand based in Atlanta
MTM home delivery
Most MTMs are delivered weekly to your home in vacuum-sealed containers. Commercial providers may deliver nationwide, while nonprofit programs usually serve local areas.
Fresh meals can last 7 to 14 days in the fridge and may be frozen for longer. Food delivered frozen may be stored safely in a freezer for several months.
You can buy MTMs without a referral if you self-pay. Insurance may cover these meals if they’re prescribed by a healthcare professional. If you qualify, an RDN assesses your nutritional needs. They will create menus or a meal plan designed for your condition. Most people receive about 10 meals per week for as long as the health plan allows.
Who qualifies for medically tailored meals?
The most common qualifying diagnoses for MTMs are heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. But others may also qualify, including those with one or more of the following:
A chronic condition that makes buying and preparing food difficult
A chronic condition that requires a special diet
A chronic condition and food insecurity
Recent discharge from a hospital or a nursing home
Pregnancy with a related condition, such as gestational diabetes
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Benefits of MTMs
An analysis of more than 30 peer-reviewed studies and program evaluations found that MTMs can lead to fewer hospital stays, lower costs, and better quality of life. Here’s what that means:
Fewer hospital and ER visits: People who get MTMs may have fewer hospitalizations and lower healthcare costs. Another study found that MTMs reduce hospital admissions by half for people with complex medical and social challenges.
Lower risk of death: Adults with diabetes who struggled to afford food and received MTMs had a reduced risk of death, according to this study. MTMs after a hospital stay have also been linked to fewer deaths and readmissions in the first month.
Better disease management and less food insecurity: MTMs can help you stick to your treatment plan and ensure you have enough nutritious food. In a small study, food insecurity dropped among Medicaid-enrolled adults with Type 2 diabetes. But clinical outcomes such as blood glucose (blood sugar) didn’t improve. In another study, adults with HIV who received MTMs were hospitalized less often, felt less depressed, and were more likely to take their HIV medications.
Greater convenience and quality of life: Meal planning, shopping, and cooking can be overwhelming if you have a serious illness. Ready-made meals delivered to your door take away that stress. In one program, people with lung cancer said home-delivered meals made life easier during treatment.
Much of the research focuses on how MTMs save insurers money. But fewer hospital and ER visits can also mean lower out-of-pocket costs for you, including copays and coinsurance.
How much do medically tailored meals cost?
After an inpatient hospital stay, MTMs are usually free for Medicaid enrollees. And they may be free or low cost for those enrolled in certain Medicare Advantage plans. Without insurance, meals can cost about $10 each, or average $80 to $150 per week for a 10-meal program. Some programs have wide-ranging menus and prices. One offers signature meals from about $6 for a sandwich to $20 for seafood entrees. Prices vary by location, provider, and meal type. Shipping may be an additional cost.
Does insurance cover medically tailored meals?
You’re more likely to find coverage for MTMs from Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans. Here’s how insurance coverage breaks down:
Medicaid
Some Medicaid programs cover MTMs and other food interventions, such as groceries, at no cost. As of July 2026, at least a dozen states have approved programs providing nutrition support for enrollees with food insecurity.
On average, MTM programs provide a person with 10 weekly meals for about 8 months. Some Medicaid programs cover shorter or longer periods. California, for example, covers up to 12 weeks of MTMs for Medi-Cal enrollees without reauthorization.
Original Medicare
Medicare Advantage
Two-thirds of Medicare Advantage plans offered a meal plan benefit in 2026. (Not all are MTM programs.) Most plans allow you to receive meals for a short time after hospital or nursing home discharge. This is typically 2 to 4 weeks, unless your doctor renews the order.
Commercial coverage, including Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans
Most commercial coverage doesn’t cover MTMs. These include employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, and other private health plans. But that may change. Some commercial insurers are testing or have recently started pilot programs involving MTMs.
If you have a commercial plan, you may be able to use funds from a health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) for MTMs. You may need a healthcare professional to provide a letter of medical necessity outlining that you require this type of nutrition to treat a health condition.
What can I do if I’m worried about getting enough to eat?
If you don’t have access to enough nutritious food, you can dial 211 to find emergency food resources near you. Available options may include:
Meals on Wheels America: This organization delivers meals to older adults with mobility challenges. Eligibility varies by program.
Second Harvest Food Bank: This nonprofit organization provides free healthy food to those in need. You can also search for food banks near you.
Feeding America: This is the largest food-relief organization in the U.S.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): This government program provides nutrition benefits to people with low income.
Foraging public spaces for fruits and vegetables and connecting with gleaning organizations are lesser-known ways to get free or very low-cost fruits and vegetables.
The bottom line
Medically tailored meals (MTMs) are home delivered and designed by registered dietitian nutritionists for people who need specific kinds of food. Often, people who receive MTMs need them to manage a medical condition or after being discharged from a hospital or nursing home. Others have health challenges that make shopping or cooking difficult.
Increasingly, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid programs cover MTMs for people with chronic conditions. Research suggests that customized meals reduce healthcare costs and improve quality of life.
Commercial health insurers are also covering more nutrition-related services. Many large insurers pay for visits with registered dietitians, often through telehealth. Your coverage from a private plan may include grocery allowances, meal discounts, and food-as-medicine programs.
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References
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