Please Help- Eating Disorder Parity Bill
7 07 2008JenP sent me this email and I wanted to post it for you guys. i was going to discuss it and link to the site, but i thought JenP’s words couldn’t be improved upon:
Hi all,
As many of you know, I suffered from and recovered from an eating disorder in the past. After many years of treatment, including 2 residential stays, one of which was partially covered by insurance, I fully recovered. However, many people don’t have the opportunity or the financial means to continue treatment after insurance either drops coverage too early or denies coverage altogether. Eating disorders require long-term care, and having to leave treatment too early, before the body is physically, or most importantly, psychologically prepared to deal with the many challenges that the outside world presents to the individual in recovery, is detrimental to those suffering from eating disorders.
Recently, an agreement was passed between the House of Representatives and the Senate for a Mental Health Parity Bill. Basically, this means that, if passed, there would be parity in insurance coverage for addiction and mental health treatment. It does not necessarily mean that insurance companies would be required to cover every one of these cases, but that they would be on an equal playing field as those cases involving medical/surgical benefits. This would help to combat the discrimination that people in recovery from addiction and mental illnesses often face. Many people suffering from eating disorders have be virtually on the verge of death before insurance companies deem it “medically necessary” to pay for their care. This leads to families having shoulder the burden of paying up to thousands of dollars PER DAY for their loved ones.
This new bill would help those suffering tremendously. However, Congress needs to find approx. $4 billion dollars over 10 years to pay for the bill before the bill can be brought to the floor for final passage. This coming Wednesday, July 9, is Mental Health Parity Day. If you have the time and would be willing to call your Member of Congress/Senator to ask that they set aside funds for this important cause, I would be very grateful.
The following website allows you to enter your zip code and find your Member of Congress/Senator’s name and phone number and a sample script to use, if needed.
http://m1e.net/c?37976226-nbbjYUNEr29Iw%403446049-9qUWgB0ScpbPU
Thank you so much for your help,
Jen
I know for me, someone that didn’t even go through inpatient, I went through out patient counselling, the bills were daunting. I almost quit a few times because I just couldnt pay for it, even though my insurance did cover a bit. I can’t imagine the financial burden on a family, or individual, that must do inpatient. Eating disorders are a mental illness just like any other, and deserve equal coverage.
Along the same vein, I know a lot of you are recovering/recovered/struggling with eating disorders, and this site, Breaking The Mirror, is a great blog in the b5media network (the network Grounded Fitness is in) devoted to eating disorder recovery.
Thank you for all the great links!!
As one who has also spent too much money when trying to get past an eating disorder, I cannot stress how important this is. Someone shouldn’t have to suffer longer than necessary from an eating disorder just because they cannot pay the bills for treatment. It is a terrible disease that does require professional help to get past.
I will definitely be sending a response. My younger sister is a recovering anorexic. She has come a long way.