Aetna Eating Disorder Coverage

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Aetna is a Fortune 100 health care company that offers an array of conventional and consumer-directed health insurance products and health-related services, including pharmaceutical, medical, dental, group life, behavioral health and disability plans as well as long-term care and medical management.

Behavioral health plans can be bundled with any Aetna health product. Each plan provides different coverage, but all plans offer a broad range of care services, including:

• Family and individual counseling
• Psychotherapy for severe behavioral health issues
• Psychiatric assessment or evaluation
• Disease management services
• Case management to harmonize care
• Assistance from an Aetna account manager

If you want more information on how to become a member of Aetna, you can visit the company’s website or call our helpline at .

Does Aetna Cover Eating Disorders Rehab Programs?

According to the company’s Clinical Policy Bulletin: Eating Disorders, Aetna covers treatment for eating disorders. As a member of Aetna, you can take advantage of the company’s behavioral health programs and resources. To see if you are eligible to receive coverage, you can call the number provided on the back of your membership ID card.

Under Aetna’s Clinical Policy Bulletin, most patients struggling with eating disorders can receive care on an outpatient basis. Hospitalization is typically reserved for patients with severe symptoms, such as low body weight that requires hemodynamic stabilization, or for those with medical conditions requiring close supervision, such as:

• Electrolyte imbalances
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Profound hypoglycemia
• Self-mutilation
• Inability for self-care
• Suicidal tendencies

Failure of outpatient care can be considered grounds for inpatient treatment. Patients with bulimia nervosa do not necessarily require hospitalization unless their binge eating has caused anorexia nervosa and lead to serious metabolic problems, such as electrolyte imbalance. Hospitalization is also necessary if the patient is suspected to have suicidal depression.

Inpatient Treatment Length Aetna Will Cover

Once you know your eating disorder treatment will be covered by Aetna, you must understand the eligibility criteria for obtaining inpatient or outpatient treatment coverage. As far as receiving coverage for inpatient treatment, you need to work with your counselor to devise an appropriate treatment plan. The counselor will review your eating disorder history, assess your specific needs and then will suggest a treatment duration. Then, you can contact Aetna to ask for approval of the suggested treatment length.

Not everyone seeking treatment will respond in the same way to a specific length of stay at an inpatient facility. While some patients may need 90 days of inpatient care to completely recover, others may only require 30 days. Your treatment duration is determined based on the severity and history of your eating disorder as well as on the presence of any co-occurring conditions.

As a rule, the more time patients with eating disorders devote to their rehabilitation, the more likely they are to obtain long-term recovery. A long stay allows patients the time needed to properly address the root cause of the disorder as well as the opportunity to learn strategies for resisting temptations and avoiding relapse.

Aetna Coverage for Eating Disorders with Dual Diagnosis

According to the National Institutes of Health, individuals with eating disorders are 50 percent more likely to struggle with a co-occurring substance abuse problem than the general population. The best way to handle a dual diagnosis is with inpatient care, which simultaneously addresses both the eating disorder and the comorbid condition.

To increase your chances of attaining recovery, your treatment should include:

• The use of medications to treat any withdrawal symptoms you are experiencing
• A comprehensive treatment method that includes the participation of the patient’s family members
• A sympathetic approach to treatment that is aimed at strengthening the patient’s self-confidence and self-esteem

Although treatment for a dual diagnosis is challenging, complete healing is achievable. When you are ready to start working on your recovery, please feel free to call us at our helpline at .

Specialty Eating Disorder Treatments Using Aetna

An eating disorder is a serious health problem that sometimes requires that the sufferer be treated in a comfortable environment that is free from the stressors of daily life while providing most of the amenities that the patient has been used to. A luxury eating disorder treatment facility provides such an environment. Luxury rehab programs offer a wide range of therapy options that complement the traditional techniques used in the treatment process.

While group and individual counseling, along with medication, are essential parts of any eating disorder recovery program, luxury treatment centers may also offer alternative treatment methods to speed up the recovery process. These may include family therapy, equine-assisted therapy, adventure therapy, couples therapy and even art therapy.

Contrary to what the name may suggest, a luxury facility isn’t a vacation spot. You’re still required to attend your therapy and counseling sessions, and you must participate in group work and complete your individual work to ensure successful results.

One of the amenities provided at a luxury treatment center is a private room. Some patients hate the idea of sharing a room with another person, and if you have experienced a traumatic incident in the past, you might find sleeping with a stranger in one room very uncomfortable.

Regardless of the reason for seeking treatment at a luxury center, we can help you locate a luxury eating disorder treatment center that is ideal for your specific situation. You can reach us at at any time.

How to Cover What Insurance Doesn’t Pay For

In case your insurance doesn’t cover the cost of treatments you require, many treatment facilities provide payment plans to their patients. Co-financing is another option you can consider. If you don’t have enough insurance to cover your eating disorder treatment, one option available to you is government aid. Several government programs can be found online. One such program is the strategic initiatives offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency that is committed to helping Americans achieve behavioral health and well-being.

Verify Insurance Coverage and Find the Best Treatment Programs

Health care providers first check your health insurance policy, so you must bring your health insurance ID card when you inquire about treatment. Your physicians may contact your insurer, such as Aetna, to determine the amounts as well as the types of treatment that your policy covers. For more information about using Aetna for eating disorder treatment, call our hotline today.

Statistics indicate that the most effective treatment for an eating disorder is a combination of psychological counseling or psychotherapy, nutrition and medication. A treatment plan tailored to your specific needs as opposed to a cookie-cutter approach to treating eating disorders makes all the difference in obtaining long-term recovery.

Some patients with eating disorders respond well to group, individual and family therapy, in conjunction with medical management provided by medical experts. In addition, patients may benefit more from nutritional counseling, support groups and psychiatric medications under the guidance of health care professionals.

Verifying your insurance policy and finding the help in treating eating disorder don’t have to be laborious tasks. If you don’t have the luxury of time to find a suitable facility for your needs, let us do it for you. Just pick up the phone and dial when you are ready.