Parents/paying for recovery/insurance questions

[runattwilight]

Can anyone answer these questions? I'm over 18 so my doctor couldn't tell my parents anything, but I'm not ready to talk to them and I know that I really need help to fight this and that it's holding me back. I'm still on my family health insurance (in the US), does anyone know if I can start recovery without my parents knowing until I'm ready to tell them? There's some counseling available at my university but not enough to last long-term since there's a limit on sessions... has anyone run into this in the past? Usually when I think about recovery it just triggers everything all over and I know if the first step is talking to my parents I may never get there. Thank you guys

[xblindmyeyesx]

i think they do day pasients at some hospitals u can go in for day have meals etc n help then go home in late afternoon after "super vison" (if ur under weight) ask them to keep it confessional and seeing ur 18 they would ask u anyway

[birdie816]

I'm in the same boat as you. I'm not ready to tell my parents either and I'm still on their insurance plan. I've finally told a therapist at my university's health center but she wasn't very helpful and kept pushing me to see an outside therapist that specialized in EDs so I'm not going back. She also got me to see a doctor at the health center and I've told her so she's pretty much monitoring me now. But here's what I have learned through the process.

If you see an outside therapist (not through your school) and you use your insurance to pay for it, your parents will get a thing called an explanation of benefits (EOB). I'm not really sure what it is but its kinda like a bill where the insurance company shows claims for payment that they get from doctors, basically what they are paying for/what your using your benefits for, but I'm not sure if your parents will have to pay anything. Basically if you use your insurance for anything your parents will know, even blood tests and physicals. All of that goes on the EOB. The EOB will probably will just say mental health benefits or therapy or something like that and you can just tell your parents you want to see a therapist for stress or anxiety but I know with my parents, I don't even want to do that. If you are planning on using your insurance, you have to check with them to make sure you have mental health benefits/coverage. Some insurance plans don't cover mental health issues so you have to call and check. It's really easy if you have an insurance card and your parents will never know you called to check. Then there's also clauses about deductibles but I don't know a lot about that. It's a really confusing process with insurance because every plan is different.

Another option is to self-pay but that can get really expensive. Some therapists offer sliding scales which basically is a reduced rate, but its still very expensive because therapy is a pretty long process. I would start with a therapist at your school or ask your doctor about your options and his/her recommendations. Your school might be able to bend the rules and let you have more sessions. It doesn't hurt to ask. Good luck!

[runattwilight]

Thank you!! I thought that'd be the case. I think I'm going to come up with some other reason for going to the doctor and talk to her about it then... I think she's great and hopefully we'll figure something out. I'll tell my parents eventually, but my dad would be confused and my mom would just cry. Good luck to you as well!