Using Cigna for Bulimia Treatment

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Cigna offers a guide for treatment coverage that details levels of eating disorder care. According to this guide, the first step in developing a treatment strategy involves an individual medical assessment by a qualified professional. This assessment includes:

• Medical and family history
• Listing of current symptoms
• Evaluation of physical status
• Evaluation of psychological status

After this initial assessment, health care professionals in consultation with a Cigna case worker will decide on the optimum treatment, coverage and level of care, particularly whether the care should be outpatient or inpatient.

Bulimia nervosa is a progressive disorder that is best treated if caught early, so immediate intervention is crucial. If you or a loved one is suffering from symptoms or warning signals that indicate the presence of the disorder, do not hesitate to call your primary care physician, visit an emergency room or call us at to set up an initial assessment.

Using Cigna for Bulimia Treatment

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, bulimia does not have a singular cause. Various factors may play a part in the development of the disease. These factors include:

• Culture. The type of body that a culture promotes as ideal may negatively affect how members of that culture feel about their body types, particularly if such an ideal is unattainable.
• Heredity and other biological factors. Genes, hormones and other chemicals may be responsible for certain aspects in the development of bulimia.
• Family history. A person with family members who have suffered from bulimia or who are critical of physical appearance are more likely to develop the disorder.
• Individual psychological and medical history. An individual with previous psychological personality disorders or poor self-esteem may be more susceptible to bulimia.

Using Cigna for your bulimia treatment will help you take all of these factors into account as you and your health care professional seek the most promising treatment. In its description of the levels of eating disorder treatment, Cigna makes clear that along with professionals and the individual patient, family dynamics play a significant role in the progress of treatment, especially at the outpatient level.

Does Cigna Cover Bulimia Nervosa Rehab Programs?

Cigna covers at least part of the cost of bulimia nervosa rehab programs at the outpatient and inpatient level at varying degrees. Authorization for anything beyond routine outpatient care requires an in-person assessment by a qualified clinician who will then consult with a Cigna representative to establish the best treatment plan.

Cigna classifies treatment plans into several categories, including the following:

• 12-step programs. These community programs are free. In a 12-step program, you can benefit from the experience of others who have suffered from the disorder and learn methods with which to confront triggers and harmful thought habits.
• Routine outpatient care. This type of treatment may include therapy and weekly support groups but does not include medical treatment.
• Intensive outpatient care. This type of treatment may include group and individual therapy as well as intensive treatment for three to five days a week. Patients will learn strategies for eliminating harmful eating behaviors and developing healthier ones.
• Inpatient acute care. This treatment is intended for patients who need 24-hour clinical care and monitoring because of the severity of the disorder. It also includes nursing care and regular doctor visits.
• Inpatient residential. This treatment is for individuals who require around-the-clock behavioral care as well as intensive therapy and education throughout the day. It is usually considered after less extensive treatment methods have been tried.

After the initial assessment, you can choose the plan that best suits your condition and needs, and as treatment progresses, the care level can be increased or decreased depending on your response to the current treatment. Different levels may overlap; for example, 12-step program meetings are a part of treatment at all levels.

Inpatient Treatment Length Cigna Will Cover (28-30, 60, 90+ Day)

Cigna insurance coverage may include the cost of an inpatient treatment program after some conditions have been met and confirmed by a complete medical evaluation. The length of such a program will be determined by the initial medical assessment, subsequent medical assessments during treatment, and your response to current treatment. You should be advised that for patients who have not been treated for bulimia on previous occasions, less intensive treatment methods will likely be administered first. Cigna believes that many patients respond well to lower levels of care, especially if the condition has not been shown to be chronic.

Please contact us at to address any concerns about the type or level of care you may want to receive and what is covered by your Cigna insurance.

Cigna Coverage for Bulimia Dual Diagnosis

Bulimia is often diagnosed at the same time as other comorbid conditions that need as much therapeutic attention as the eating disorder; if untreated, these conditions can be as dangerous as the eating disorder and may trigger relapses.

Patients with dual diagnoses are often in more serious medical situations than patients who have been diagnosed only with an eating disorder, and they typically require more specialized and extensive medical treatment and monitoring, usually on an inpatient basis. After the initial dual diagnosis assessment, your team of health care professionals in consultation with a Cigna representative will consider all the options. Cigna coverage for bulimia dual diagnosis, as with other coverage for more intensive treatment, depends on this initial assessment.

Specialty Bulimia Treatments Using Cigna

Some patients may require facilities in which more attention is given to personal privacy and in which the amenities offered are more extensive and exclusive, including access to exercise facilities, equine therapy and other specialty treatments. These luxury treatment facilities are more costly, but for many patients, they are the best choice because of the comfortable environment. While Cigna may not offer as much coverage for such specialty treatments, many procedures and individual therapy sessions may be partly covered.

Please call us at or call your Cigna representative to begin the process of evaluation and choosing the treatment facilities that will best meet your individual needs.

Other specialty treatments, as detailed by the Mayo Clinic, include methods that may be considered to be alternative medicine but that have proven to be effective for many patients on their own or in combination with more traditional treatments and therapies. Such specialty treatments include:

• Meditation
• Yoga
• Acupuncture
• Massage therapy

Do not hesitate to ask your health care provider about specialty bulimia treatments that may be covered using Cigna for eating disorder treatment.

How to Cover What Insurance Doesn’t Pay For

Your decision to seek treatment should not be affected by concerns about how to cover costs for treatment that insurance doesn’t pay for. Your condition will only worsen if you do not receive treatment.

Please call us at so you can begin the healing process; we are here to help, and that includes helping you figure out ways to pay for any costs that Cigna may not cover. Various foundations offer financial assistance for eating disorder treatment, and certain federal organizations can assist you in obtaining funds or setting up payment plans. While you should work closely with a Cigna caseworker to get the paperwork straight, your number-one priority is being open to and ready for treatment.

Verify Insurance Coverage and Find the Best Treatment Centers

From verifying insurance coverage to finding help in treating eating disorder at an affordable rate, we are committed to helping you take the brave step of seeking treatment. If you feel overwhelmed by the process of admission into a treatment program, please give us a call as soon as possible so that we can assist you in getting on the right path to recovery.