Expert: Ginger - 6/13/2010

Question
Hi - first I want to say thank you for donating your time to this site! If it was not for people like you, this site would not be possible, so thank you!

I have a son who has bulimia along with quite a few other mental disorders.  I have been unemployed for some time and rely on COBRA for my medical needs.  I spent almost all last year fighting with the insurance company to pay for my son's treatment but they kept refusing.  They finally dropped him from my coverage when he turned 19 in September.  I have applied for the Manna %26 F.R.E.E.D. scholarships and they have no funding.  I have spent 2 years looking for help with no luck. Our state (WA State) medical, which my son is on has no counselors that are trained in eating disorders or any treatment facilities. If you have an alcohol or drug addiction, there is no problem getting into treatment. Not so with eating disorders.  Did you get help from your own private insurance?  Do you know where I can look for help?  I have been looking for almost 2 years now and its been an agonizing 2 years!
Thank you!

Answer
Hi Michele,
Thank-you for your question! I'm so sorry you're going through such a hard time. I'm in Canada, so I was in a bit of a different situation than you and your son are, in that I was able to get into treatment without having to pay for it all. What I did have to pay for, my private insurance covered. I'm not sure what agencies could help you, but I noticed you said your son has quite a few other mental disorders. Eating disorders often go hand-in-hand with other mental illnesses, and it's possible that by focusing on another of his diagnosed illnesses, the bulimia with be treated, too. Is it possible to get him in treatment using one of his other illnesses as a main diagnosis?
E-mail me any time if you think I could be of help.
Good luck,
Ginger