How to Find an Eating Disorder Facility

If you or a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, finding the right treatment path may be daunting. However, there are many options at your disposal to help you find which path may be your best option.

Worries Over Insurance

Before looking into types of eating disorder treatments, it is important to consider the question of insurance, as the process of seeking coverage may be daunting. The National Eating Disorders Association offers helpful information that can help you along the way. 

First and foremost, it is essential to recognize that effectively treating an eating disorder requires treating its psychological and physical aspects. While insurance companies are legally required to cover both mental and physical health the same way, your insurance company may contract your mental health care under an entirely separate company, which could create confusion. 

A strategy that may help is obtaining a case manager who will handle your case at your insurance company for you. Your case manager, however, may or may not be experienced in advocating for patients who are in recovery from an eating disorder; you should be prepared to explain to them in a rational, calm, yet assertive way that you need both physical and mental health coverage in order to recover. Having a case manager may very well streamline the process of interacting with your insurance company as you progress on your recovery journey; it is also important to remember to record everything: dates and times of phone calls, and any written correspondence included.

If you are trying to help someone who is under 18, however, know that you will have to get written permission in order to speak to their insurance company on their behalf. A customer care representative at their insurance company should be able to tell you what exactly is required.

Types of Eating Disorder Treatment

There are various types of treatments for eating disorders; this includes but is not limited to checking into a residential treatment facility and intensive outpatient treatment. The type of eating disorder treatment your doctor recommends for you will largely depend on the particulars of your case. Some such treatments may include:

• Outpatient/Intensive Outpatient. This treatment is often the appropriate route for patients who are psychiatrically/medically stable, can function in their job, school, and/or social lives while in recovery, and do not need daily monitoring by professionals.

• Partial Hospital. This route is generally reserved for individuals who are medically stable but have impaired functioning and need daily assessment by professionals, and/or psychiatrically stable but cannot function in their job, school, and/or social lives normally and/or are still engaging in pathogenic weight loss techniques on a daily basis.

• Residential. This treatment is often suggested for individuals who are medically stable but psychiatrically impaired and cannot respond to partial hospital treatment or outpatient programs.

• Inpatient. This treatment is generally reserved for patients who are medically and/or psychiatrically unstable.

Finding an Eating Disorder Treatment Facility

While finding an eating disorder treatment facility may seem intimidating at first, the Internet is a great tool to help you begin your search. In fact, Eating Disorder Hope offers a webpage that lets you search for eating disorder treatment on a state-by-state basis using an interactive map. 

We are also here to help you or your loved ones at Eating Disorder Recovery Specialists. You can reach us via phone (866-525-2766), email, or by filling out our contact form.