Question:
Didn’t you read my post I Emailed you saying if you found a facility that would take Medicaid, everything should be covered. I think you need inpatient care with all your health problems. I think Westwind isn’t medically equipped to handle all your problems, plus you would have to pay for it yourself, most likely. If you look in your state, there’s probably some facility that would take Medicaid for inpatient treatment. It may not be what you want, but if you’re serious about breaking the cycle you’re in/learning new coping skills/being able to work with therapists & psychiatrist, I would really do some searching. I went to a state hospital that has one of the best known programs in the U.S. & people from all over came to it. My state ended up paying for me to be there until I was done–which took me 3 long months. You can’t always expect to have your cake & eat it too–sorry for the pun, but it’s true. If you want recovery, you need to be willing to do whatever it takes to change. If you want to stop just a part of the E.D. that you want to, but keep some of it, then do whatever you want to do. I don’t mean to sound harsh, I just want you to try and get out of the E.d. long enough to understand how it works. If you want someone to comfort you & work on a couple issues, but still let you keep XX behavior, then just try a little therapy. I believe you’ve already suffered some major consequences from your E.D. & are fortunate enough to have Medicaid to pay for more intensive treatment. Most private insurance will only cover XX amount of visits per year. I wish you the best–not what your E.D. wants. I’d like to see you keep living–and have it be a better life than you’re experiencing now. And your wt. does not mean that you don’t need intensive treatment/others in treatment are always more focused on themselves than everyone else.–you won’t be put down or singled out because you don’t think your skinny enough. Your symptoms are what’s important/out of control. Lynette
Response:
I was wondering if some people here have therapy sessions that are covered under insurance, and if not, how much therapy usually runs…
Depends upon what type of health insurance one has: an HMO, PPO, "mangled care," etc. In some instances, an insurance company will pay for a specified number of visits per year, and in other instances, there is a monetary limit. One’s choice of therapists may be limited to whoever is listed as part of the insurance company’s network of "approved providers." Or one can pay partly out-of-pocket if the insurance company will permit out-of-network visits. Therapy is priced at different levels, too, depending upon the therapist and the location (those in large cities often pay much more than those in small towns, for instance). Also, a person who is a psychotherapist, such as a licensed social worker, clinical psychologist, or nurse practitioner, rather than an MD, a psychiatrist, is likely to cost less. Many psychiatrists don’t do a lot of therapy, they tend to focus more on medication issues, and many people will see them just for the meds while working in therapy with someone else. Fees for therapy can range from $80/hr – $150/hr and up… You mention: what I need is during and after meal support, and to get a structered food plan. I restrict all day, and
sometimes binge at night… Well, then, frankly, I DON’T think that Westwind would be the best place for you, as they do not seem to provide "a structured food plan," and patients are left to their own devices at night. Can’t answer to the during-and-after meal support aspects of Westwind’s program. I do know that Renfrew has as a component of its program a group which immediately follows each meal, called "MST," or "mealtime support therapy," which provides the opportunity for support in a caring environment. Also, you have a lot of medical issues and Westwind is ill-equipped to deal with that right there in the clinic, so I don’t think that it would necessarily be the safest program of choice for you, Nikki, given your health situation. Have you considered Columbia-Presbyterian in NY? Their program is free, but you would have to qualify for and participate in the research protocol. It IS behavior-mod oriented, though, and incorporates things such as bedrest as part of the program if a patient’s condition warrants it. It certainly does sound as though you are in need of some sort of therapeutic intervention, and the sooner the better! –Connie — "Starving the flesh wastes the spirit." –Kandis Elliot
Response:
I was wondering if some people here have therapy sessions that are covered under insurance, and if not, how much therapy usually runs…also, what would be the difference if I went to see a phsychiatrist versus a therapist? I need to do something soon…I am on this path of destruction. I dont want inpatient right now (and cant afford inpatient anyway, even though some thing I would benefit from it),…..I was looking at Westwind intially, but even at $800/week, its too much for me. I cant borrow money from anyone and certainly cant get a loan from a bank or anything. Westwind would be good for me as it doesnt advocate force feedings, and what I need is during and after meal support, and to get a structered food plan. I restrict all day, and sometimes binge at night…I have anorexic thoughts but am a little overweight (I’ve heard someone say that there is such a thing as an overweight anorexic) and I purge, through one means or another. I need to break this cycle, and Westwind seemed like a good place to do that. Its not crowded there (therefore I would have less of an instance of being triggered). The only thing I worry about is bowel obstructions from constipation (I have had this happen before). Thanks for listening. Love Nikki "… lost in the darkness of my own circumstance, criticizing echoes leaving me awake in the night… the barrier and blockades that keep me safe and in control while I pretend that I am okay… "
Response:
Hi Nikki, First off, it makes me really happy that you are seeking treatment. That’s really brave and it sounds like you can turn this downward spiral around if you do something now. As for insurance and therapy, my insurance *sucks* and will only pay for a maxmimum of 20 therapy sessions per year and will only pay a max of 50 dollars per session. I called around many therapists and asked if any had sliding scales. The woman I am seeing now does and it seeing me for only 50 dollars an hour, so it is totally covered by insurance. Maybe you could try to find someone with a sliding scale? Another point, however, is that usually therapists with sliding scales may not be the best ones, and there’s nothing worse than wasting an hour of each week talking to someone who isn’t helping you, so you may have to search around a bit. So do you have no insurance? Even if you have crappy insurance, maybe you could convince your doctor to just put you on a medical ward for a week (for the ed or something lupus related) just to give you a break and allow you to break the cycle that you are now in. Ideally, of course, an ed treatment center would be best – will your insurance pay for that? Westwind sounds great, but it seems to me that it is good only for long-term stays and if you can’t afford one you probably won’t make much progress. I hope this helps? I really really hope you can find something that will help you and that you can afford. Tasha – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was wondering if some people here have therapy sessions that are covered under insurance, and if not, how much therapy usually runs…also, what would be the difference if I went to see a phsychiatrist versus a therapist? I need to do something soon…I am on this path of destruction. I dont want inpatient right now (and cant afford inpatient anyway, even though some thing I would benefit from it),…..I was looking at Westwind intially, but even at $800/week, its too much for me. I cant borrow money from anyone and certainly cant get a loan from a bank or anything. Westwind would be good for me as it doesnt advocate force feedings, and what I need is during and after meal support, and to get a structered food plan. I restrict all day, and sometimes binge at night…I have anorexic thoughts but am a little overweight (I’ve heard someone say that there is such a thing as an overweight anorexic) and I purge, through one means or another. I need to break this cycle, and Westwind seemed like a good place to do that. Its not crowded there (therefore I would have less of an instance of being triggered). The only thing I worry about is bowel obstructions from constipation (I have had this happen before). Thanks for listening. Love Nikki "… lost in the darkness of my own circumstance, criticizing echoes leaving me awake in the night… the barrier and blockades that keep me safe and in control while I pretend that I am okay… "
– For info about this service, see http://www.twwells.com/anon/ or e-mail:
Response:
Lynette had thought maybe Nikki is already on Medicaid? I’m not sure that she is. Somehow, I had the impression that she is still in the process of applying or appealing for SSDI and such. If she is already on Medicaid, though, this could give her some treatment options, definitely! I don’t know if St Joe’s in MD takes Medicaid patients or if Johns Hopkins does, but those are the two "key players," so to speak, in her state which deal with EDs. Mercy Hospital in Baltimore used to have an ED program, but I think that this program was moved to St Joe’s when that unit opened up. It might indeed be necessary for Nikki to travel out of state in order to get the inpatient treatment she needs. –Connie — "Starving the flesh wastes the spirit." –Kandis Elliot
Response:
hi nikki, i dont know the answer to your question regarding insurance covering therapy. i know back in the 1980"s i had aetna insurance which did cover therapy. however that was years ago . i guess your best bet is to surf the web on companies such as blue cross, aetna, etc. as for psychiatrist versus therapist. psychs are much more expensive averaging 80 to 150 bucks an hour. therapists generally are about 70 to 80 however many work on sliding scales. a therapist can be a social worker, counselor, etc. mine is an marriage and family counselor (although she treats not just marriage and family stuff) and charges me on a sliding scale fee of only thirty five bucks. as for bowel obstruction. have no fear. last summer i came up here and my digestive system was dead. over two weeks no bowel movements but i went to the medical clinic and eventually everything got worked out. i found a med which helped me and got regular. it can be attended to shell – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was wondering if some people here have therapy sessions that are covered under insurance, and if not, how much therapy usually runs…also, what would be the difference if I went to see a phsychiatrist versus a therapist? I need to do something soon…I am on this path of destruction. I dont want inpatient right now (and cant afford inpatient anyway, even though some thing I would benefit from it),…..I was looking at Westwind intially, but even at $800/week, its too much for me. I cant borrow money from anyone and certainly cant get a loan from a bank or anything. Westwind would be good for me as it doesnt advocate force feedings, and what I need is during and after meal support, and to get a structered food plan. I restrict all day, and sometimes binge at night…I have anorexic thoughts but am a little overweight (I’ve heard someone say that there is such a thing as an overweight anorexic) and I purge, through one means or another. I need to break this cycle, and Westwind seemed like a good place to do that. Its not crowded there (therefore I would have less of an instance of being triggered). The only thing I worry about is bowel obstructions from constipation (I have had this happen before). Thanks for listening. Love Nikki "… lost in the darkness of my own circumstance, criticizing echoes leaving me awake in the night… the barrier and blockades that keep me safe and in control while I pretend that I am okay… "
Response:
I am on Medicaid through the state of Maryland…its through Social Services as opposed to Social Security. I am awaiting the decision for my SSI/SSD, and if its favorable, then my insurance will change. However, it seems my insurance has really strict limitations on it. I guess I will make it a goal next week to go over my books and see what is/isnt covered. Nikki "… lost in the darkness of my own circumstance, criticizing echoes leaving me awake in the night… the barrier and blockades that keep me safe and in control while I pretend that I am okay… "
Response:
as for bowel obstruction. have no fear. last summer i came up here and my digestive system was dead. over two weeks no bowel movements but i went to the medical clinic and eventually everything got worked out. i found a med which helped me and got regular. it can be attended to
I am really prone to bowel obstructions, even before I was purging via laxatives. My first obstruction was when I was 14, and my latest was Thanksgiving. They are miserable. Nikki "… lost in the darkness of my own circumstance, criticizing echoes leaving me awake in the night… the barrier and blockades that keep me safe and in control while I pretend that I am okay… "
Response:
besides what connie and pat/lynette mentioned…you can check if you’re covered by your parent’s insurance first. i think you need to be under 23-25? of if you’re a full-time college student?
That wouldnt be me…I will be 28 in April…and my parents dont even live in the same state as I do…my dad lives in Florida and my mom Lives in CA..she used to live in Maryland but "left us" (me and her husband at the time) in 1991 to pursue a romance in California. Lucky for her, life has turned out quite well…unlucky for me, I have had even more problems with her leaving. Nikki "… lost in the darkness of my own circumstance, criticizing echoes leaving me awake in the night… the barrier and blockades that keep me safe and in control while I pretend that I am okay… "
Response:
i know the law in La is that medicaid will pay for adolescent inaptient psych treatment at private hospitals, but not for adults. only medicare is accepted for adults. shell – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – the problem is that none of the ed centers i know of take medicaid alone as insurance. some will take medicare but even that is a stretch for some. medicaid will get you a state institution-if you want to chance that. i use medicaid for a little community hospital near me which has been great since they have a stellar psych program but that is unusual. most hospitals have a certain number of psych beds reserved for medicaid but they are few and far between.
Response:
Nikki & I had Email’ed each other privately and she told me she was already on Medicaid/still in the process of trying to get on SS disability/Medicare. That’s why my original post may have sounded harsh. She has NOT given you guys all the information. She is on Medicaid & if you guys have info. for her regarding this, I find that more appropriate than everyone having to give her general info. about private insurance. Just trying to help her–not trying to help the hidden E.D. voices. Lynette
Response:
I was wondering if some people here have therapy sessions that are covered under insurance,
get a "summary plan description" aka SPD or ask a benefits administrator/insurance agent and if not, how much therapy usually runs…
depends on where you live. most insurances pay for "usual and customary" so, if you see an extra expensive physician, you may be subject to paying $$ above and beyond what is usual and customary in a region that has probably been defined by your insurance carrier.. e.g. southern massachusetts is a region usual and customary here is $50-$79/hour
Response:
my insurance will not cover my therapist at all and only 20 outpatient visits total per year with a psychiatrist. i pay out of pocket for my therapist-$55 a session. she is covered by medicare so beginning in february, medicare will pay about 2/3 of my bill which will be nice. most insurances i’ve been involved with do not cover outpatient therapy at all-definately not with a pdoc. i use my 20 visits for meds and then just pay my therapist. she has a sliding scale so that helps. good luck.
Response:
the problem is that none of the ed centers i know of take medicaid alone as insurance. some will take medicare but even that is a stretch for some. medicaid will get you a state institution-if you want to chance that. i use medicaid for a little community hospital near me which has been great since they have a stellar psych program but that is unusual. most hospitals have a certain number of psych beds reserved for medicaid but they are few and far between.
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