Using FirstCare for Bulimia Treatment

View all insurance carriers

If you or someone close to you is suffering from bulimia, it is vital to find a rehabilitation facility specializing in the treatment of this eating disorder. While eating sensibly and exercising regularly are important for overall good health, when people become obsessed with their weight, it can lead to the development of serious medical problems. Individuals suffering from bulimia often engage in a vicious cycle of binging on large quantities of food and then trying to physically eliminate the food in order to avoid gaining weight.

During an average binging period, someone with bulimia may consume thousands of calories in a short period of time. In some instances, a person with bulimia may vomit to eliminate the food consumed, or use laxatives, diuretics or enemas. Bulimia may not always involve purging, however. In some cases, someone with this disorder may try to make up for binging by exercising excessively or crash dieting.

Without proper treatment, bulimia can lead to serious health consequences. According to U.S. News & World Report, 1 in 50 women are bulimic. Treatment is available through a variety of resources. If you’re using FirstCare insurance for eating disorder treatment, your plan may provide coverage for bulimia treatment. For help in locating a bulimia treatment center in your area, please contact us at . We are available 24/7 to answer questions and help you find a treatment facility that can assist you or your loved one in getting specialized treatment.

Does FirstCare Cover Bulimia Nervosa Rehab Programs?

If you are not certain whether your FirstCare policy covers bulimia treatment, you may be able to find this information in your policy. Keep in mind that not all policies through FirstCare are the same. If you are not able to locate the information you need regarding covered benefits in your policy, consider consulting a benefits administrator. When speaking with your benefits administrator, it is important to verify the types of bulimia rehab programs that are covered by your insurance plan. This is essential because there are various types of bulimia treatment programs available.

An inpatient bulimia treatment program is designed to provide treatment in a residential setting. This means that patients live at the facility while undergoing care. The goal of inpatient treatment is to ensure patients receive the most intensive level of care possible. This can be particularly important for patients who are suffering from severe bulimia and who may have even begun to experience serious health consequences as a result.

In an outpatient bulimia treatment program, patients come to the facility on a regular basis to receive treatment. Treatment sessions may last for just a few hours or all day. When bulimia has not progressed very far and the patient is not in serious medical danger, an outpatient facility may be appropriate, but an outpatient facility usually cannot provide the same level of care and monitoring as an inpatient facility.

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

It is important for you to verify the length of treatment that your FirstCare insurance plan covers. Different programs last for varying periods of time. The shortest duration of treatment for bulimia is usually about one month. A 28-day or 30-day treatment program may be sufficient in uncomplicated cases of bulimia, but in many cases, a longer treatment plan is necessary. The South Carolina Department of Mental Health reports that many people with eating disorders need between three and six months of treatment.

The length of eating disorder treatment that you or your loved one needs can vary based on a number of factors. For instance, the length of time that you have suffered from bulimia may affect the length of treatment required to help you recover and return to full health. Your overall medical condition could also affect the length of treatment required. If you are suffering from serious health problems, you may need to be hospitalized first to stabilize your health.

Medical complications that are commonly associated with bulimia include:

• Abdominal pain and bloating
• Dizziness and weakness
• Acid reflux
• Ulcers
• Chronic sore throat
• Chronic constipation
• Ruptured stomach
• Mouth sores

FirstCare Coverage for Bulimia Dual Diagnosis

Many people with bulimia also suffer from other conditions and disorders. For example, patients with bulimia are frequently diagnosed with anxiety disorders or depression. It is also not uncommon for patients struggling with bulimia to have problems with substance abuse. Without addressing all disorders, it can be difficult for patients to achieve a full recovery.

A dual diagnosis facility can provide a comprehensive assessment to identify any co-occurring disorders and design a treatment plan that will address all issues. Make it a point to verify whether your FirstCare policy covers a dual diagnosis program. If you need help in locating a dual diagnosis facility and how to find help in treating eating disorder issues, we are always available. Please call us at .

Specialty Bulimia Treatment: Treatments Using FirstCare

It’s also important to ensure that the facility you choose for yourself or your family member can provide specialty bulimia treatment. Due to the fact that bulimia can affect mental health as well as physical health, a variety of treatment services will be needed. When a patient’s medical condition is critical, that naturally needs to be addressed first. Once the patient is stabilized, it will then be possible to begin addressing the behaviors and thought processes involved in the binging and purging cycle associated with bulimia.

Since bulimia often involves unhealthy thinking patterns related to eating, patients might need to work with a nutritionist who is trained in treating bulimia. In many cases, it will be necessary for the nutritionist to design a meal plan that ensures the patient receives an adequate number of calories to help in the return to a healthy weight.

If the patient has been engaging in excessive exercising, that needs to be addressed as well. Exercising is important for optimal health, but as part of a specialty bulimia treatment, patients need to learn how to exercise in a healthy manner. Individual and group therapy can be helpful in assisting patients in recovering from negative thinking patterns.

How to Cover What Insurance Doesn’t Pay For

In the event that your FirstCare insurance policy does not pay for all of your bulimia treatments, you will need to identify other resources for doing so. Receiving proper specialized treatment is essential to recovering from bulimia. With professional help, it is possible to overcome bulimia and lead a healthy life once again.

A lack of insurance coverage should not prevent you or your loved one from receiving the help that is needed. Many bulimia treatment programs are willing to work with patients and their families to provide special financing programs. For help in locating a bulimia treatment facility, please contact us at . Our trained staff is always available to speak with you and answer any questions you might have.

Verify Insurance Coverage and Find the Best Treatment Centers

Verifying your FirstCare insurance coverage is only the first step in locating bulimia treatment for you or your family member. Resources are available to help. In the process of identifying a treatment facility that is most appropriate, it is important to determine the level of care provided and ensure that the facility is staffed with medical personnel trained in treating bulimia. A facility that also provides dual diagnosis treatment may be necessary for the optimal opportunity for recovery.

Call us at for help finding bulimia treatment that will be covered under your FirstCare plan.