The Parity Act

  When someone is suffering from an eating disorder one of the most difficult tasks in recovery is to simply admit to having a problem and asking for help. When one conquers this step, the next battle is against the insurance company. According to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times, only 1 in 10 people with an eating disorder will receive treatment, and of those in treatment, at least half will recover; however, insurance companies are not required to cover eating disorder treatment. This article features Danielle, a 32 year old nurse who had battled an eating disorder for 15 years. She will testify at a congressional hearing in Chicago in favor of the Parity Act which is proposed to help increase mental health insurance coverage. In her own personal struggle, she received three months of treatment in an inpatient residential facility and it cost her $90,000 because her insurance company was unwilling to pay.  Though eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses, the adequate treatment for those wanting to recover is quite often unaffordable. To read further about Danielle's journey and the congressional hearing happening on August 6th, click here.

Hannah, intern with Eating Disorder Hope