Does Medicare Cover Boost Drinks? Understanding Your Coverage Options

December 11, 2025 •

3 min read

Original Medicare generally offers limited coverage for over-the-counter nutritional supplements. Whether Medicare covers Boost drinks depends on the Medicare plan type and medical necessity.

Quick Summary

Original Medicare usually does not cover Boost drinks. Exceptions exist for medically necessary situations, like inpatient stays. Medicare Advantage plans might provide supplemental benefits, such as over-the-counter allowances or healthy food stipends. Coverage varies based on plan details.

Key Points

Original Medicare: Boost drinks are generally not covered by Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
Inpatient Care: Coverage is possible under Original Medicare Part A if the drinks are medically necessary during an inpatient stay.
Medicare Advantage: Many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans may cover Boost drinks through supplemental benefits.
Medical Necessity: A physician's order is needed to document medical necessity for any potential coverage.
MNT: Medicare Part B covers Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) counseling but not over-the-counter products.
Plan-Specific Benefits: Check the details of your Medicare Advantage plan, as supplemental benefits vary.

Original Medicare (Parts A & B) and Nutritional Drinks

Original Medicare, which includes Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance), has specific rules about nutritional supplements like Boost. Most plans do not cover the cost of over-the-counter oral nutritional shakes. These are usually considered self-care items, not medical necessities. However, there are limited exceptions:

Inpatient Care: If receiving inpatient care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility and nutritional drinks are part of a medically necessary treatment plan, they may be covered under Part A.
Feeding Tubes: When medically necessary, Medicare Part B can cover enteral nutrition, which is nutrition given through a feeding tube. The drinks are covered as part of this treatment, not for oral consumption.
Medically Necessary Circumstances: In rare cases, if a nutritional product is a prescription drug and medically necessary to treat a condition (e.g., severe malabsorption), it might be covered under a Part D plan. This is highly specific and not for standard over-the-counter Boost drinks.

The Medically Necessary Requirement

A doctor's order is essential to document medical necessity for any potential coverage. The documentation must prove that nutritional needs cannot be met through regular food, even pureed or liquified, due to a specific illness or medical condition. Coverage is typically denied if the drinks are requested for convenience, loss of appetite, or general dietary supplementation.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Supplemental Benefits

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies and must cover everything Original Medicare does. Many offer supplemental benefits that can be a key source of coverage for nutritional supplements like Boost. These benefits vary significantly, but options include:

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Allowances: Many Medicare Advantage plans provide a monthly or quarterly allowance for OTC products, including nutritional supplements, from participating retailers.
Healthy Foods Benefits: Some plans offer money for buying healthy food, often via a flex card, which could be used for nutritional drinks, depending on the plan's terms.
Meal Delivery Services: After an inpatient stay, some Medicare Advantage plans provide temporary meal delivery services that could include medically tailored nutrition.

To check Medicare Advantage plan coverage:

Review the plan's Evidence of Coverage document.
Contact the plan provider directly to ask about OTC or healthy foods benefits.
Check if specific pharmacies or grocery stores are included in the network.

Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: A Comparison

Here is a table comparing Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage for nutritional supplements like Boost.


Feature	Original Medicare (Parts A & B)	Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Coverage	Generally no, with very limited exceptions.	May offer supplemental benefits.
Medical Necessity	Strict criteria; only for tube feeding or inpatient care.	Varies by plan; can be covered through allowances.
Oral Supplements	Not covered for oral consumption.	Often covered via OTC or healthy foods allowance.
Benefit Variation	Standardized across all plans.	Varies significantly between private plans.
Cost Source	Paid out-of-pocket by the beneficiary.	Potentially covered via plan's supplemental benefits.
Doctor's Order	Required for all medically necessary exceptions.	May not be required for use of a benefit allowance.

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) and Related Services

Medicare Part B covers medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease. MNT involves a referral from a doctor to a registered dietitian for nutrition counseling and assessment. This service does not directly cover the cost of nutritional products like Boost but helps beneficiaries manage their diet. While nutritional drinks may be discussed as part of a treatment plan, the product itself is generally not covered under MNT. An exception could be if the product is administered as part of a treatment involving a feeding tube.

Conclusion

For most people on Original Medicare, Boost drinks are not covered. These are dietary supplements and are not covered unless administered in specific, medically necessary situations, like inpatient treatment or via a feeding tube. The best chance for coverage is through a Medicare Advantage plan, which may offer extra benefits like an over-the-counter allowance that can be used for nutritional supplements. Beneficiaries should check their plan details and consult with their healthcare provider to determine the best path for their nutritional needs.

For more information on Medicare's coverage policies, a reliable resource like AARP is available. Does Medicare Cover Nutrition Counseling? - AARP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Generally, no. Original Medicare typically does not cover over-the-counter oral nutritional supplements like Boost.

A Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan might cover Boost drinks through supplemental benefits such as an OTC allowance or a healthy foods stipend, depending on the plan.

'Medically necessary' means a doctor has ordered the product to treat a documented medical condition because a normal diet is not sufficient.

A doctor's prescription does not guarantee coverage. For Original Medicare, the supplement must be administered in a specific context (like a feeding tube). For Medicare Advantage, coverage depends on the plan's supplemental benefits.

Medicare Part B covers Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) and diabetes self-management training, but it does not typically cover nutritional drinks for oral consumption.

Yes. If Boost is a required part of your treatment plan as an inpatient, it may be covered under Medicare Part A.

Check your plan's Evidence of Coverage document or contact your Medicare Advantage plan provider to ask about your Over-the-Counter or healthy foods allowance and which products are eligible.