Using Exclusive Care for Anorexia Treatment

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Anorexia nervosa, or just anorexia for short, is an eating disorder characterized by an intense and irrational fear of weight gain, an unwillingness to take in enough calories to maintain a healthy weight, an obsession with body image and poor self-esteem. Anorexia can lead to emaciation, malnutrition, other eating and mental health disorders such as bulimia, and, in severe and prolonged cases, even death. If you have Exclusive Care insurance, anorexia nervosa treatments may be covered under your policy.

The first step to treating anorexia nervosa is to identify the problem. If you believe you or someone you know suffers from this disease, it is important to be familiar with its symptoms so you can recognize them. Symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:

• Compulsive or excessive exercise
• Deliberate fasting with weight loss
• Extreme reluctance to eat
• Prolonged dieting
• Persistent and severe fear of weight gain
• Hair loss
• Abnormal sensitivity to cold
• Irregular or altogether absent menstruation in women
• Excessive facial and body hair due to an insufficient amount of protein

According to the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, about 20 percent of people suffering from the disease will die prematurely as a result of its complications, including heart-related problems and suicide, and only about 30 to 40 percent of anorexics ever fully recover. Studies agree the longer individuals suffer from anorexia, the more likely they are to die as a direct result of it.

If you suspect you or someone you know may be struggling with anorexia, it is important to seek help right away. Please contact us at for assistance in finding a nearby rehabilitation center specializing in anorexia nervosa.

Does Exclusive Care Cover Anorexia Nervosa Rehab Programs?

One of the most prevalent concerns people have about rehabilitation programs for eating disorders is whether or not their health plan will pay for it. Generally speaking, there are two types of rehabilitation treatments: inpatient and outpatient. Inpatient treatment requires the patient to check into a rehab facility and stay there for the entire course of the treatment program, which can last as little as 28 days or as long as 90 days or more. This type of treatment offers focused and round-the-clock care and is generally more intensive than outpatient treatment. It also allows patients to be removed from the stress of daily life, so they can focus solely on their recovery.

Outpatient treatment requires the patient to check into a rehab facility regularly — typically every day except for weekends and holidays — for counseling and medication. This type of treatment is not as intensive as inpatient, but it is sometimes more convenient since the patient is allowed to return home and to keep working throughout the program.

Exclusive Care insurance coverage may offer both inpatient and outpatient rehabs, but a medical review must be conducted to ensure eligibility for coverage. Check your specific policy to see if you are covered.

Inpatient Treatment Length Exclusive Care Will Cover (28-30, 60, 90+ Day)

Inpatient programs can vary in length considerably from just a little under a month to over three months. The duration of coverage from Exclusive Care varies from patient to patient depending on specific plans and medical needs. Again, you must undergo a medical review to determine eligibility.

Exclusive Care Coverage for Anorexia Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis rehabilitation can be a vital part of treatment for and recovery from anorexia nervosa. As stated previously, it’s fairly common for people with this disease to suffer from other serious disorders as well, such as bulimia, anxiety and depression. If a patient also suffers from another disorder, it’s imperative for both disorders to be diagnosed and treated at the same time, and that’s just what a dual diagnosis facility does.

For help determining what your insurance plan will cover and for help finding a dual diagnosis facility that can best accommodate you or a loved one, please contact us at . Advisors are standing by 24/7 to assist you.

Specialty Anorexia Treatments Using Exclusive Care

Specialty anorexia nervosa treatment provides patients with everything they need for a full, healthy recovery. Such treatment must address both the patient’s physical and psychological needs. There are three stages to this: first, the patient must be restored to a healthy weight; second, the patient must be treated for any psychological conditions related to anorexia; and third, the patient must undergo therapy to eliminate or reduce harmful behavioral patterns.

In severe cases where medical complications are found, treatment can include hospitalization for closer monitoring and treatment of malnourishment and dehydration. Typically, treatment offers adequate nutrition, psychotherapy, and medications when necessary.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, will often be administered to patients to treat any maladaptive emotions, behaviors or cognitive processes. Over the course of the treatment, patients will learn to replace their unhealthy, inaccurate body perceptions with healthier ones, thus improving their self-image; to build, maintain and monitor a healthy diet; and to avoid harmful triggers that could set off their old behavioral problems again in the future. The end result will be a patient who has addressed their harmful behavioral or cognitive patterns and can continue to eat and exercise in healthy ways.

There are currently no medications specifically for treating anorexia because none have proven to be effective. However, it is common for medications for other related conditions, such as anxiety and depression, to be prescribed.

How to Cover What Insurance Doesn’t Pay For

It’s important to understand that your health must take priority over the cost of medical treatments, especially in the event that your medical plan does not cover all or part of the treatment you or a loved one requires. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, only 1 in every 10 people who have eating disorders receives treatment, and only 35 percent of people who receive treatment do so at a specialized rehab facility. According to that same association, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Treatment is crucial, regardless of the cost.

If you or a loved one cannot afford the necessary treatment for anorexia nervosa and do not have adequate insurance to cover the cost, check with the rehabilitation facility to find out if any financial programs are offered.

Verify Insurance Coverage and Find the Best Treatment Programs

Once you verify the insurance coverage, you must choose the best treatment center for you or a loved one. In doing this, it’s important to consider which type of treatment is ideal – inpatient or outpatient. Keep in mind that while outpatient treatment allows patients to continue to work and to return home, it may not be as intensive as necessary.

Those undergoing inpatient treatment benefit from the 24-hour staff care, longer and more in-depth therapy sessions, and recovery free from the stress daily life brings. All this can make the eating disorder treatment and recovery process much easier for the patient.

According to a study by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, the longer a person goes without treating anorexia, the higher at risk of dying as a result of its complications. Five to 10 percent of those suffering from anorexia die within 10 years of contracting the disease, and 18 to 20 percent die within 20 years. Therefore, it’s critical to recognize and treat this disease as early as possible. Regardless of how long you or a loved one has been suffering from anorexia nervosa, it’s not too late to treat it and go on to live a full, healthy life.

To know more about finding the help in treating eating disorder for you or your loved one, please don’t hesitate to call us at . Advisors are always ready to help you.