Using Exclusive Care for Eating Disorder Treatment

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Eating disorders are serious conditions that affect more than 24 million American men and women each year. Exclusive Care is a government-funded public health plan available to residents of the County of Riverside, California. The plan is intended to provide health care coverage for public employees and their families.

Exclusive Care provides comprehensive health and wellness services, utilizing a vast network of hospitals and practitioners within the county. This type of program is known as an exclusive provider organization because it is the sole provider for a specific group of employees. As long as you are an employee, retiree or family member of a County of Riverside employee, you are likely eligible for treatment for your eating disorder as well as a variety of other health issues.

Will Exclusive Care Cover Eating Disorder Treatment?

Exclusive Care covers the same illnesses and conditions that any other normal insurance provider covers. Eating disorders affect every aspect of your health, so most providers offer comprehensive treatment programs for these disorders. The type of treatment your Exclusive Care plan will cover depends upon your individual situation and the severity of your eating disorder.

Many eating disorders produce life-threatening secondary conditions, so it is essential to tailor the treatment length to the severity of your condition. Regardless of the type or severity of your eating disorder, you can find a treatment facility and a program length that will work to provide you with a great recovery environment.

Some of the most common eating disorders include:

• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia nervosa
• Compulsive overeating
• Binge eating disorder

Each disorder comes with its own set of problems and recommended treatments, so whether your Exclusive Care insurance plan will cover a particular treatment may vary. The provider offers extensive mental and behavioral health services, so your Exclusive Care agent will be able to help you find a treatment provider in your area that meets the insurer’s standards of care.

For more information on finding help in treating eating disorder near you, call our helpline any time at . We would be happy to provide you with the information you need to make the most of your Exclusive Care coverage.

How Much Will Eating Disorder Treatment Cost?

Eating disorder treatments can be costly, especially inpatient care at a residential treatment facility. Even if you do not elect to pursue inpatient care, the cost of behavioral therapy can add up over time. Eating disorders are complex health issues that cannot simply be solved within a few days. You will likely need to be in treatment for months or even years to fully recover. For this reason, it is impossible to say what any given treatment program will cost without taking into consideration the various individual factors that affect the length of stay, treatment type and recommended provider.

Fortunately, Exclusive Care is a small yet reliable network that is known for providing excellent care for all its patients. Exclusive Care has a vast network of physicians inside and outside of the County of Riverside. The insurer guarantees its patients the highest-quality care at the lowest price, meaning you will pay as little out of pocket for your eating disorder treatment as possible. The EPO Plan and Out-of-Area Plan are the only plans not fully run through Exclusive Care. These plans are paid for by members, the county government and other county assets. A trust has even been set up to cover treatments not available through your standard Exclusive Care plan.

The major factor in cost for eating disorder treatment is the type of plan you have. The In-Area plan serves local patients and offers a wider range of local physician and facility connections. While out-of-town retirees and county employee dependents are eligible for care through the Out-Of-Area Plan, their options may be more limited.

The best way to find out about the cost of a particular treatment is to consult with your physician and your Exclusive Care agent. For more general information on the Exclusive Care program and eating disorder treatment costs, call our toll-free helpline at .

Inpatient Eating Disorder Treatment vs. Outpatient Services

Inpatient treatment is widely regarded as one of the most effective ways to treat a variety of eating disorders. Unfortunately, only 10 percent of those with an eating disorder will ever seek treatment, and only 35 percent of those will seek treatment at a specialized eating disorder treatment facility. Exclusive Care attempts to solve this problem by setting out a program devoted solely to care in a medical facility. The Centers of Excellence coverage is made up of specific facilities and network providers dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to all Exclusive Care members. From surgical procedures to routine treatments and therapy, these Centers of Excellence are staffed with highly trained medical professionals who can help you recover from your eating disorder.

One of the benefits of seeking treatment at an inpatient treatment center instead of an outpatient treatment center is the treatment environment. The dangerous patterns that accompany eating disorders can easily be triggered by environmental stressors. For bulimics and compulsive overeaters, unlimited access to food can be too overwhelming to resist. For anorexics, attempting the recovery process alone without constant support and encouragement to eat a healthy amount of food is likely to lead to relapse. Checking into an eating disorder clinic allows you to work with professionals in a controlled and stress-free environment designed to facilitate successful recovery. You will have access to round-the-clock care and support from trained professionals as well as fellow patients who are recovering from eating disorders.

Exclusive Care will work with you to find the closest treatment facility that meets your needs and the insurer’s standards of care. Whether you choose to seek treatment at an inpatient eating disorder facility or an outpatient treatment center, your Exclusive Care agent can help you make the necessary arrangements to get started on your healing journey.

For more information on inpatient and outpatient treatment options for eating disorders, call our toll-free number at . Our representatives are available 24 hours a day to take your call and help you get the information you need.

Dual Diagnosis Eating Disorder Therapy

Comorbidity refers to two or more disorders that occur simultaneously in the same person and have some degree of relation to one another. Mental health conditions have a high rate of comorbidity, so it is very possible that you have one or more eating disorders or other related mental health issues. A widespread study by the University of California at Irvine conducted a survey of female patients with eating disorders. A massive 56 percent of those who reported an eating disorder also reported having an anxiety disorder, while another 22 percent also indulged in substance abuse. These startling statistics show just how common it is to have both an eating disorder and another serious mental health condition.

The presence of two or more mental health issues can drastically affect your progress in eating disorder therapy, especially if one or more of those issues go undiagnosed. Your Exclusive Care providers can help you receive a comprehensive diagnosis and receive treatment for all relevant disorders. Untreated depression and anxiety can exacerbate the symptoms of an eating disorder, making it significantly harder to recover. To treat your eating disorder, you must also treat any comorbid conditions to ensure complete wellness.

Insurance vs. Private Pay for Eating Disorder Options

Because the Exclusive Care program is locally based, you will have access to a variety of providers and facilities in the County of Riverside and nearby areas. The price for out-of-town coverage is the same, but your treatment options and provider network may be more limited, since this is a local insurance program.

When it comes to insurance vs. paying out-of-pocket expenses for eating disorder treatment options, having an insurance plan through Exclusive Care can save you thousands in the long run. Because Exclusive Care generally covers behavioral health specialists and eating disorder treatment at specialized medical facilities, you will be able to get some or all of your treatment stay covered. Residential treatment facilities tend to cost thousands, and longer treatment stays without insurance can put you into severe debt. Although insurance premiums are a monthly investment, they are a great way to keep your costs manageable in the long run.

If you find that your Exclusive Care plan doesn’t cover all the treatment options you would like to take advantage of, consider applying for a medical credit plan. These plans provide a line of consumer credit to be used specifically for medical services for you and your loved ones. Although these credit lines require monthly payments, their interest rates tend to be fairly competitive in comparison to other lines of consumer credit. In addition, some providers may offer financial assistance or in-house payment plans for patients who can demonstrate some sort of financial need. Financial hardship and significant medical expenses are common factors that may make you eligible for lower rates at your chosen treatment facility.

Exclusive Care is a unique opportunity for employees of the County of Riverside to provide great long-term coverage for themselves and their loved ones. Although anyone can have an eating disorder, adolescent girls are more than 2.5 times as likely to suffer from an eating disorder as adolescent boys. These incredibly dangerous illnesses can affect anyone at any time, and they can result in serious and even life-threatening physical disorders. Seeking care and learning more about the eating disorder treatment options available to you is the first step toward recovery.

For help sorting through the various treatment options and getting yourself or a loved one on the road to recovery from an eating disorder, call our toll-free number at . We are available 24/7 to take your call and provide you with the support and information you need to make the most of Exclusive Care treatment options.