Eating disorders do not just go away on their own. People struggling with anorexia, bulimia or another eating disorder require treatment, which usually involves a combination of therapy, nutrition education and prescription medication. Without treatment, eating disorders can lead to severe complications, including death.
Knowing how critical eating disorder treatment is to the safety, health and recovery of the individual, why do so many people struggle to get the help they need? Mainly because there are a handful of barriers that people face before getting treatment. Let’s discuss what these barriers are so that you can be aware of them.
Lack of Access to Care
Specialized eating disorder treatment is mostly offered in large cities and metropolitan areas. This is a problem for those who live in rural communities because they either need to travel back and forth to an outpatient treatment center or spend thousands to stay at a residential rehab. Many families are unable to make this commitment.
Financial Cost of Treatment
Despite progress, insurance barriers remain. Insurers won’t authorize residential treatment until the person has arrived at a facility and receives an in-person evaluation. At this point, insurance may cover some of the treatment costs, but residential programs can be $30,000-$40,000+ a month.
Even if the person does require 24-hour eating disorder treatment, the insurer may still deny the admission. But, the patient is already there, so they either have to leave or pay out of pocket while they appeal the insurer’s decision. Treatment centers are working to improve this, but they still need cooperation from the insurance companies.
Misconceptions and Stigma
Another reason why some people don’t get the help they need is because of the stigma associated with eating disorders.
Eating disorders are not a choice to be thin and they are not about food. They are far more complex and serious than people realize. Unfortunately, these misconceptions about eating disorders cause more harm than good, robbing people of their dignity, increasing their isolation and delaying their need for treatment.
Accessible Eating Disorder Treatment from CTRLCare
These are three of the most significant barriers to eating disorder treatment in Princeton NJ. Fortunately, treatment centers are changing things to make it easier for patients to access personalized care.
CTRLCare offers treatment for eating disorders and mental illness, which commonly occur together. We have a streamlined admissions process where we accept most major insurance plans, and we offer personalized treatment plans for each individual.
Our facility is safe, supportive and includes a wide range of evidence-based, research-supported interventions. Contact us today to learn more about getting you or a loved one the help they need.
