Using Cook Children’s Health Plan for Anorexia Treatment

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The Cook Children’s Health Plan is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1998 to provide essential insurance coverage to low-income families in the Fort Worth area of Texas. Members receive necessary medical care and preventative services, including immunizations and well-child visits.

Cook’s provides coverage for a variety of issues related to food and exercise, including binge eating, compulsive exercise and anorexia. This health coverage is offered to families who are eligible for the government-sponsored Children’s Health Insurance Program and the state Medicaid program, STAR. If you or someone you love has any questions concerning treatment for an eating disorder, contact us at . We can provide you with the assistance you need.

Using Cook Children’s Health Plan for Anorexia Treatment

According to the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, one in every five women suffers from an eating disorder, and anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among teens. Eating disorders can be both expensive to treat and difficult to diagnose, which is why many people do not seek treatment.

Cook Children’s Health Plan works to ensure your child gets care to overcome the illness and live a healthy lifestyle. An individual who suffers from anorexia has a real fear of gaining weight and a distorted self-image. The goal in treatment is to help identify the cause of the poor self-esteem and to teach proper nutrition and eating habits.

Cook Children’s Health Plan has a network of over 570 doctors, 1,300 specialists and 43 hospitals that can provide care for children and adults of all ages. This network includes psychologists and general care physicians.

Does Cook Children’s Health Plan Cover Anorexia Nervosa Rehab Programs?

Member services provided under the Cook Children’s Health Plan are covered either by STAR or CHIP. CHIP members are those who meet certain income requirements but still do not make enough to be able to afford private insurance. Children covered under this policy pay no more than $50 per year for coverage, though you may also be required to make small copayments at the time of service. STAR members are families with very low income levels who cannot afford private insurance or the deductibles required with CHIP. No copayments are required with STAR.

Anorexia rehab programs are covered under the Cook’s plan, and the policy will cover all necessary treatment to stabilize the individual in severe cases. Anorexia can cause a variety of symptoms that require treatment, including:

• Low body weight
• Distorted self-image
• Lack of menstruation
• Poor eating habits
• Osteoporosis
• Anemia
• Constipation
• Brain damage
• Organ failure
• Low blood pressure
• Dry skin
• Slowed respiration
• Drop in internal body temperature
• Cardiac arrest
• Dehydration

Inpatient Treatment Length Cook Children’s Health Plan Will Cover

If you suffer from an eating disorder, Cook Children’s Health Plan may cover the cost of rehabilitation, but you will need to see your primary care physician first to get a referral. Your primary care physician will take notes and assess your child’s condition and the severity of the disorder. If your doctor feels inpatient treatment is necessary to facilitate success, your Cook’s plan may also cover your stay for anorexia, but your policy may have limits on the amount of time you can spend in treatment.

In order to find out what your plan covers, it’s best to contact your Cook Children’s Health Plan representative or case worker and discuss your options. Your policy may cover the entire length of time your doctor has advised for treatment or may set a limit on the number of days it will cover. You also need to consider if the treatment facility is in network or out of network. Your policy may not cover any treatment that is not done within the network, so ask your caseworker to help locate an eating disorder treatment program your doctor can refer you to.

Cook Children’s Health Plan Coverage for Anorexia Dual Diagnosis

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, over half of those who suffer from eating disorders also abuse drugs and alcohol. Scientists believe that multiple shared neurotransmitters are involved in both eating disorders and substance abuse.

Treatment for an anorexia dual diagnosis must be accomplished in stages in order to succeed. First, the person must detox from the drugs or alcohol, or if the dual diagnosis is for depression, the mental illness must be addressed with medication or therapy. Treatment involves counseling, behavioral therapy and group therapy to help find the source of the eating disorder. Treatment can last a lifetime, and your Cook’s policy may have limits on what it will cover.

If you have questions concerning a dual diagnosis for anorexia, contact us at , and we can provide you with answers.

Specialty Anorexia Treatment Treatments Using Cook Children’s Health Plan

Early detection is the most important element in treatment for anorexia. The longer your child suffers from the illness, the harder it can be to break. Some specialty treatments that may be covered by using Cook Children’s Health Plan for eating disorder treatment include therapy and counseling and, in many cases, family counseling. It’s important for family members to be able to recognize the symptoms of relapse when your child is trying to recover from the illness, and all members of the family must assist in eating right and proper exercise in order for recovery to be successful.

Journaling is a free activity that can help your child work through any underlying issues, and working with a dietician can help ensure proper nutrition. Other alternative forms of treatment that probably aren’t included under Cook Children’s Health Plan insurance coverage include acupuncture, massage therapy, art and dance therapy, and yoga.

How to Cover What Insurance Doesn’t Pay For

Your policy may not cover the entire cost of treatment for anorexia, but it is critical to seek out treatment options. Many different options are available to help you pay for treatment if your policy does not cover all of the cost. First, speak to the treatment facility or your physician about setting up a payment plan or getting financing. Because self-pay is a common method of paying for eating disorder treatment, your rehabilitation center may allow you to finance the entire cost of your rehab.

Another option is to locate a free clinic in your area and see if you qualify for treatment. You will need to fill out an application to see if you meet the income requirements. The free clinic may not provide inpatient treatment, but you may be able to get outpatient treatment through a therapy or psychologist. Check with your college to see if medical treatment is covered in the cost of tuition. Your college may offer counseling to those who live on campus or attend fulltime. Cook Children’s Health Plan offers a variety of services, including a 24-hour nurse hotline and access to mental health care.

Verify Insurance Coverage and Find the Best Treatment Programs

If you are new to Cook’s and are unsure what your policy covers, you can contact the number found on your policy or on the back of your insurance card, and any one of the representatives can provide assistance with your account. You should also have your summary of benefits package that will help you understand exactly what types of treatment you can receive. Once you receive verification, you can ask your physician or Cook Children’s Health Plan representative to help you find the best treatment programs in your area. The sooner you get help, the better your chances are for complete success.

If you or someone you love is suffering from anorexia, call us at for more help.