Using Great West Insurance for Eating Disorder Treatment

View all insurance carriers

An eating disorder can be a scary thing for both the individual struggling with the disorder and her family. If you or someone you love has an eating disorder, you aren’t alone. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, millions of people struggle with these conditions, and nearly half a million teenagers struggle with eating disorders.

Eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia and binge eating, and there are a range of symptoms that may indicate you or someone you love has one. These may include the following:

• Refusing to eat or eating to point of discomfort
• Lying about hunger
• Self-induced vomiting
• Fear of weight gain
• Exercising too often
• Stomach pain
• Depressed mood
• Unexplained pain
• Low blood pressure
• Feeling cold

Using Great West Insurance for Eating Disorder Treatment

If you suspect that you or a loved one has an eating disorder, you may be able to use your Great West Insurance plan to get treatment. The company offers a variety of insurance plans, and your coverage depends on your particular plan. Many people who have Great West Insurance actually have supplemental medical plans. These plans pay you cash benefits when you experience certain health issues.

According to the American Dental Association, the group who offers supplemental health care plans through Great West Insurance, your supplemental plan should kick in if you have to go to the hospital. The cash you receive through your plan can be used to pay for your time in the hospital and the expenses you incur while you are there. The plan will also take effect if you have one of 17 critical illnesses.

Sadly, eating disorders can become very severe if they aren’t treated. Thus, there is a chance you may suffer from one of these 17 critical conditions due to your eating disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic, if an eating disorder isn’t treated soon enough, you could suffer from serious issues such as the following:

• Death
• Heart problems
• Organ failure
• Kidney damage

If your eating disorder becomes that severe, you could rely on your Great West Insurance plan to cover your bills while you stay in the hospital. If possible, however, you should try to get help before your eating disorder leads to severe health problems.

If you have had an eating disorder for a long time and you are worried about it leading to severe consequences, you need to act now. If you have only just started to struggle with an eating disorder, it is never too early to get help in treating eating disorder issues. You simply need to pick up the phone, and call us at . Our trained representatives are standing by 24/7 to speak with you.

Will Great West Insurance Cover Eating Disorder Treatment?

Unfortunately, because most people only get supplemental health care coverage through Great West, their policies cannot be used to cover eating disorder treatment unless they are hospitalized. If you have a retirement account or other investments through Great West, you may be able to cash out those accounts and use them to cover the cost of treatment.

If you are hospitalized due to a physical issue related to your eating disorder, your supplemental Great West Insurance policy will pay you $500 per day while you are in the hospital. This coverage can last for up to 500 days. Remember, these figures are subject to change.

Eating disorders are also associated with mental health disorders, but unfortunately, if you are sent to a hospital because of a mental health disorder associated with your eating disorder, Great West will only provide you with $300 per day for up to 100 days while you are in the hospital. The company doesn’t have any information posted publicly about whether or not it will cover your stay in a facility for treating eating disorders.

How Much Will Eating Disorder Treatment Cost?

The cost of treatment for an eating disorder varies greatly. If you opt to stay in a full-service rehabilitation facility with lots of amenities, you may end up paying tens of thousands of dollars. However, if you simply attend counseling sessions at a small local clinic, you may be able to get your treatment for free or at a reduced cost.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are several types of treatment for eating disorders. Many people who suffer from these conditions turn to psychotherapy. This can help the sufferer examine her body issues, improve her outlook on life and learn how to cope with stress. Many people also need weight restoration as part of their treatments. If you aren’t at a healthy weight, you will need to work with nutritionists who can help you to regain your body mass. You will also need to get education about nutrition. The total cost of your treatment will be based on how many different types of treatment you get, where you get your treatment from and how much your insurance covers. In some cases, you may even get medicine as part of your treatment, and this too can affect the final cost.

If you are ready to learn more about treatment options for your eating disorder, you can call for answers now. Our qualified team is standing by to help you 24/7. We can answer your questions about treatments for eating disorders, and we can help you find a program that is right for your needs.

Inpatient Eating Disorder Treatment vs. Outpatient Services

Once you decide to get treatment for your eating disorder, you will need to choose between inpatient and outpatient services. The latter are services that you get while you are still living at home. You can work and participate in life as usual, but you will also attend counseling sessions, group therapy or other types of treatment. Inpatient services allow you to take a break from the daily grind. You live, sleep and eat at the same facility where you get your treatment.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, people who have physical problems because of their eating disorders or people who are in life-threatening situations should get inpatient care. This is also critical for people who have serious psychological problems in conjunction with their eating disorders. The main benefit of inpatient care is that it truly lets you focus on your eating disorder and yourself. While you are in a treatment center, you don’t have to go to work, and you don’t have to deal with family stresses. You can just focus on recovery.

There are a wide range of inpatient facilities available. Some people stay in a hospital while others go to clinics that specialize in eating disorders. From clinic to clinic, you will find a lot of variety. You can choose a clinic in your town that offers just the basics, or you can travel to a clinic by the ocean that offers beautiful views, yoga and private rooms.

Outpatient treatment also works well for many people. If your eating disorder isn’t life-threatening, you may be able to get exactly what you need from outpatient care. You can tailor your treatment to fit your needs and your budget. For instance, you could opt to attend free group therapy, or you could opt to see an expensive private therapist who specializes in eating disorders. In addition to your psychotherapy, you can also attend classes or individual meetings about nutrition as part of your outpatient treatment.

If you want a blend of inpatient and outpatient care, you could look at intensive outpatient treatment. With this option, you spend a significant amount of time in treatment. For example, you may spend every evening or every morning undergoing therapy and the rest of your time living your life as you normally would.

Dual Diagnosis Eating Disorder Therapy

Many people with eating disorders also struggle with other health issues. It is important you get all these addressed by your health care provider. If it is only treating your eating disorder and not dealing with any of your other issues, you won’t get an adequate level of care.

There are many mental health conditions that occur concurrently with an eating disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic, if you struggle with depression, anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive disorder, you are more likely to develop an eating disorder than your peers. Thus, all these issues are commonly seen with eating disorders.

If you or someone you know has both an eating disorder and one of these mental health issues, you deserve treatment that helps you with both conditions.

Insurance vs. Private Pay for Eating Disorder Options

If your insurance covers treatment for your eating disorder, you should use it. If you have Great West supplemental health care insurance, you should contact your agent to see exactly what your policy covers.

Coverage options vary a lot. For instance, your insurance company may cover individual therapy, but it may refuse to cover group therapy. It may cover treatment for depression but not care for eating disorders. The best way to tell exactly what your particular policy covers is to review your policy information and call your agent. If you have health insurance through work, you may be able to talk to your human resources department. In some cases, you can use insurance for part of the bill, and you can pay the rest out of pocket.

If you have no insurance, you may have to pay for everything yourself; however, there may be state or local programs that can help you offset the cost of treatment. Many clinics also offer sliding payment scales, which means they base their charges on your income level. If possible, you should always ask to see if a clinic is willing to work with you on a sliding scale. If not, it may extend you credit for its services, or it may be willing to accept a payment plan.

Keep in mind that treatment for an eating disorder should not be seen as an extra expense. It is an essential expense, and it could save your life or the life of someone you love.

If you or a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, it isn’t too late. You can get help today. When you call , you can speak with one of our agents. We will help you to find the treatment program that is right for you. Whether you want inpatient or outpatient treatment, we can help you find it. All you need to do is pick up the phone.