Should I Begin Eating Disorder Therapy Without Insurance?
If you have health insurance, you’re probably accustomed to relying on your coverage to help pay for all of your healthcare needs. Should your eating disorder therapy be any different? Often eating disorder therapy without insurance can yield better results for your recovery.
When it comes to mental health issues like eating disorders, the nature of insurance policies can complicate your care.
Here are some things you may want to ask yourself before you decide whether or not you should use your insurance for your eating disorder treatment:
Are you ready for possible out-of-pocket costs?
Insurance companies can decide upfront how many appointments are necessary to treat your eating disorder in order to set a limit on the amount of treatment they will cover. With eating disorder recovery, it is likely that only you and your provider will know when you are ready to leave treatment. This is because every individual’s experience with an eating disorder is unique.
Unfortunately, your insurance may not give you a treatment timeframe that is realistic for your needs. You will have to be prepared to pay out of pocket if your need for treatment extends beyond the amount of care your insurance has agreed to cover.
How do you feel about confidentiality?
Insurance companies require providers to list your diagnosis when documenting your treatment for reimbursement purposes. This includes the type of eating disorder and any co-occurring disorders (anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder) you may have. That diagnosis or diagnosis will remain on your health record. Having a diagnosis on your record may lead to higher co-pays, deductibles, and premiums on insurance policies in the future.
If you are applying to a job that requires healthcare checks, security clearance, or a background check, your diagnosis and treatment history will be accessible to your employer.
The insurance agency can also request notes from your eating disorder therapist to stay up to date on your progress. This information helps the company determine the amount of treatment that your coverage will include.
Are you prepared to wait for treatment?
If you are looking for an in-network provider, you may have to face wait lists due to the shortage of mental health providers who actually take insurance. Early intervention is critical for eating disorder recovery, so time is of the essence. Therapy without insurance can often be a better option for those in need.
(To gain a better understanding of why we and so many mental health providers are not in-network, check out this blog on The Mighty.)
And, are you willing to compromise on providers?
If you limit your eating disorder treatment options to providers who are in your insurance network, you may struggle to find the right fit. You might not have the option of working with a therapist who has the right eating disorder certifications or treatment modalities that appeal to you.
Are you willing to file (and wait) for reimbursement?
To resolve the issues of wait times and limited choices of providers, you can see an out-of-network provider like Kindful Body and ask your insurance to reimburse you for your sessions on a monthly basis.
If you do plan to use insurance to cover your treatment at Kindful Body, we will provide you with a superbill you can send to your insurance company to request reimbursement. We use Reimbursify to simplify the process. Our clients can either download the Reimbursify app or use Reimbursify File Fast. If you have never requested reimbursement, you can learn more about how it works on the Reimbursify blog.
We understand that filing for reimbursement is not ideal, but as an out-of-network provider, we, unfortunately, cannot bill your insurance directly.
The main issue with using insurance for eating disorder treatment is the lack of confidentiality. This may not be a concern for you at the present moment, but it is something to think about in the long term. Online therapy without insurance can often be more confidential and safer for you in the long run.
Our team understands that treatment may not be affordable without coverage.
The purpose of sharing this information is not to discourage those who rely on their insurance but to ensure that our clients are aware of the implications of using insurance to cover their care. We do not want cost to be a barrier to treatment but believe patients have a right to confidentiality. For those who need financial assistance, grants are available through the nonprofit Project HEAL. We belong to their HEALers Circle, providing treatment to those in California who qualify based on the organization’s assessment.
Begin Eating Disorder Treatment in California for Additional Support!
If you are a California resident looking for online eating disorder treatment, contact us for a consultation so we can discuss how we can help you in your recovery. To get started:
Learn about our skilled team of eating disorder therapists
Start getting the impact support you need.
Other Services Available at Kindful Body
You do not need to deal with eating disorders alone. There is hope and healing in the community and asking for help. If you’re ready to take the next step, there is a place for you at Kindful Body. If you’re looking for additional support in online therapy practice in California, we offer other services. This includes eating disorder treatment for students and adolescents, eating disorder treatment, brainspotting for eating disorders, trauma therapy, anxiety treatment and stress therapy, therapy for binge eating, low self-esteem issues, emotional eating recovery, body image therapy, and nutrition counseling, and relationship therapy. When you’re ready, we are here to see you for eating disorder treatment in Sacramento, San Jose, Oakland/Berkeley, Walnut Creek, San Mateo, Orange County, CA, and statewide through online therapy in California.