Using UMR for Eating Disorder Treatment

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Eating disorders can affect every aspect of your life. When you have an eating disorder, you may lose control of your eating patterns and become engaged in a cycle of self-destructive behavior. Eventually, eating disorders can destroy your health and result in a number of physical symptoms, including:

• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Extreme thinness
• Chronic constipation
• Severe dehydration
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Low blood pressure
• Growth of fine hair on the body
• Organ damage

Patients suffering from eating disorders may also engage in secretive eating behavior, feel uncomfortable about eating around others or refuse to maintain a healthy weight. Both bulimia and anorexia are common eating disorders. In both conditions, the individual will often exhibit dramatic weight loss, but it is also possible to maintain a relatively normal weight or even be overweight and suffer from an eating disorder. This is often the case with binge eating disorder.

UMR Coverage for Eating Disorder Treatment

With proper treatment, it is possible to overcome an eating disorder. Obtaining professional help is imperative if you believe that someone close to you may be suffering from an eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia. If you have UMR eating disorder coverage, you may find that your policy will pay for at least a portion of your treatment costs. For help in locating an eating disorder treatment facility, we are always available to assist you at .

Will UMR Cover Eating Disorder Treatment?

In determining whether your UMR policy will cover the cost of eating disorder treatment, you will first need to examine your policy. Not all policies are the same, and it will be important to determine whether your policy will pay for eating disorder treatment at all, as well as the type of treatment that is covered. Specific benefits information can be confirmed with a benefits administrator from UMR.

How Much Will Eating Disorder Treatment Cost?

Cost is naturally an important element to consider for many patients and their families. While it is understandable that you are concerned with cost, it should be understood that it can be difficult to determine the precise amount that treatment may cost. Cost can vary among facilities. Additionally, cost is often dependent upon the type of facility you attend as well as the duration of your treatment. The South Carolina Department of Mental Health has reported that the cost for eating disorder treatment in an inpatient facility could be as little as $500 per day but could also be as much as $2,000 per day.

The length of time you need to remain in treatment can have a significant effect on the cost of your treatment. Naturally, the longer you are in care, the more expensive the total cost of treatment. Some facilities offer treatment programs that only last about one month. In order to achieve a full recovery from your eating disorder, you may need a longer treatment program. Some patients require six months of treatment or even longer.

It is important to consider cost, but it is also important to ensure that you or your family member receives the help that is needed for a successful recovery. We are always available to talk and help you find a treatment program that is appropriate for you or your loved one. Please remember that it is truly not too late to reach out for the help that you or your family member needs to recover from an eating disorder. We are here to help you. Please contact us at .

Inpatient Eating Disorder Treatment vs. Outpatient Services

Inpatient eating disorder treatment programs are different from outpatient facilities. The primary difference that separates the two types of treatments is the fact that patients reside in inpatient facilities, whereas they do not in outpatient facilities. Many patients and their families are sometimes apprehensive about the idea of an inpatient facility. While a residential facility will take you away from home and your day-to-day routine for a while, this can actually be advantageous. When you are undergoing treatment for an eating disorder, it is important to ensure that you are not exposed to triggers or distractions that could impede your recovery. While you are attending an inpatient facility, you will be able to recover in a caring and supportive environment. You will also be able to benefit from continual medical supervision to ensure that all your needs are met.

Inpatient eating disorder treatment programs provide a wide scope of services. This is important as eating disorders affect not only your physical health, but also your mental health. One of the first issues often addressed in treatment is your current medical condition. This will typically include an evaluation of your current weight. If you are critically thin, the medical staff at your treatment facility will work with you to bring your weight back to a normal range. Depending on your current medical condition, you may also need specialized care to address other critical issues, such as low blood pressure or dehydration.

Patients attending inpatient treatment facilities will also have access to nutritional counseling and psychological counseling. Nutritional counseling is a crucial part of recovering from an eating disorder. You or your loved will usually be able to work with a trained dietician and benefit from customized meal plans.

As part of psychological counseling, patients attending an eating disorder treatment program will learn how to examine the issues that may have contributed to their eating disorder. This can be different for every person. Identifying those issues can form the foundation for a successful recovery and provide you with the tools you need to maintain your recovery in the future.

Outpatient facilities often provide many of the same services as an inpatient facility, but they are only available on a limited basis. This is because patients do not live at the treatment facility and instead only return to the facility in order to receive treatments at previously scheduled times. While this may provide you with the opportunity to continue your daily routine, it also means you will not have access to continual supervised care.

For help in locating an eating disorder treatment that is most appropriate for your needs or those of your loved one, please do not hesitate to contact us at . Our team of counselors understands how important this first step is, and they are always willing to speak with you and answer your questions.

Dual Diagnosis Eating Disorder Therapy

While it is certainly important to decide whether an inpatient or an outpatient facility is appropriate for you or your loved one, you will also need to consider whether the program offers dual diagnosis therapy. On their own, eating disorders can be serious. When left untreated, they can even become fatal. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reports that the mortality rate for eating disorders is more than 5 percent. One of the reasons that treating an eating disorder can be complex is the fact that such disorders often occur in conjunction with other disorders, including:

• Substance abuse
• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Self-harm
• Borderline personality disorder

In order for you or your family member to have the most optimal opportunity for recovery, all co-occurring disorders must be properly assessed. This will ensure that your treatment plan is customized to your unique situation. When eating disorders are involved, the situation may be somewhat more complex due to the fact that low body weight and malnourishment can actually induce or sometimes intensify psychiatric symptoms that could imitate other disorders. A comprehensive assessment is essential to properly uncover any co-occurring disorders and ensure that your treatment plan is designed to meet your unique needs. Such treatment plans may include the use of medications to assist with symptoms or detoxification in the case of substance abuse.

An increasing number of pregnant women have been found to suffer from a condition that has been dubbed as “pregorexia.” In this condition, women who are pregnant have an extreme obsession with their weight. CNN recently reported that approximately 30 percent of women in America do not gain a sufficient amount of weight while pregnant. For women who are pregnant and suffering from an eating disorder, it will be even more important that dual diagnosis services be provided as well as specialized medical and nutritional services.

Insurance vs. Private Pay for Eating Disorder Options

Determining whether an insurance-covered treatment program or a private pay facility will be the most appropriate solution for your needs is crucial. Just as there are differences between inpatient and outpatient facilities, there are also differences between insurance-covered and private pay facilities.

One of the most important differences you should be aware of is the fact that an insurance-covered program may be restricted in terms of the type of program available to you as well as the duration of treatment. In verifying your coverage through UMR, it is important to determine whether your coverage will pay for inpatient as well as outpatient programs. You should also confirm whether there are any restrictions regarding treatment length.

It is also important to keep in mind that the types of services offered between insurance-covered programs and private pay facilities can vary. An insurance-covered program will usually provide you with a wide variety of treatment services. You may not be guaranteed a private room during your stay in treatment, however. When you are paying for a private pay facility, you maintain more flexibility regarding private accommodations.

You may also benefit from the availability of services in private pay facilities that are limited or not available in an insurance-covered facility. Such services might include:

• Aqua therapy
• Horseback riding
• Music/art therapy
• Massage therapy
• Yoga

Determining the type of eating disorder treatment program that is right for you or your loved one is crucial to ensuring a successful outcome. Eating disorders are serious and require immediate professional intervention. It is possible to break the cycle and obsessive behavior often associated with eating disorders. Reaching out for help is the first step. Please contact us today at for assistance in finding an eating disorder treatment program that meets your needs.