Shame, Shame, Shame… Shame on you!
We first saw this story on CW11 (you can see the video clip, Anorexia Mom, on the CW11 site) and researched it online where it had appeared in The Star-Ledger, Denied coverage for anorexia, family aims to change N.J. law. It was such a travesty that we had to write about it.
Can you imagine an insurance company--- in this case it is Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey--- not paying for long term treatment for anorexia nervosa? In NJ, eating disorders (generally) are not considered "biologically-based" mental illnesses, therefore, the law does not require the insurance companies to treat eating disorders the same as physical illnesses—hence, the insurance companies can get away with limiting the coverage to only 30 in-patient days of treatment. Is this absurd?
With the way our society is promoting “thin is in” (we believe “bones are in” is a more apt phrase), there is a rising number of cases of young women (and men) battling this illness. How can insurance companies not cover long term treatment for this? This is a mental illness--- just like alcoholism or drug abuse. One important point the video clip on CW11 made--- models and celebrities can afford to get treatment, no matter the price. What about the average person? Isn’t this why we’re paying such high premiums for insurance… so we can get the treatment we need when we need it?
After reading this article, we researched Horizon’s latest annual report on their website. In 2005, they had net revenues of over $213 M (after taxes). This is a 23.6% increase from the previous year. Every year since 2003 (the annual report only showed a three year comparison), there has been an increase in net profit. Hoovers online actually describes Horizon as “New Jersey's top not-for-profit health insurance provider, serving more than 3 million members.” A not-for-profit?
Interesting (to say the least).
We applaud the mother in the article who will continue to fight against her insurance company and change the NJ law--- so that she can giver her daughter the treatment she deserves.
Can you imagine an insurance company--- in this case it is Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey--- not paying for long term treatment for anorexia nervosa? In NJ, eating disorders (generally) are not considered "biologically-based" mental illnesses, therefore, the law does not require the insurance companies to treat eating disorders the same as physical illnesses—hence, the insurance companies can get away with limiting the coverage to only 30 in-patient days of treatment. Is this absurd?
With the way our society is promoting “thin is in” (we believe “bones are in” is a more apt phrase), there is a rising number of cases of young women (and men) battling this illness. How can insurance companies not cover long term treatment for this? This is a mental illness--- just like alcoholism or drug abuse. One important point the video clip on CW11 made--- models and celebrities can afford to get treatment, no matter the price. What about the average person? Isn’t this why we’re paying such high premiums for insurance… so we can get the treatment we need when we need it?
After reading this article, we researched Horizon’s latest annual report on their website. In 2005, they had net revenues of over $213 M (after taxes). This is a 23.6% increase from the previous year. Every year since 2003 (the annual report only showed a three year comparison), there has been an increase in net profit. Hoovers online actually describes Horizon as “New Jersey's top not-for-profit health insurance provider, serving more than 3 million members.” A not-for-profit?
Interesting (to say the least).
We applaud the mother in the article who will continue to fight against her insurance company and change the NJ law--- so that she can giver her daughter the treatment she deserves.
posted by CareTALKGals(tm) at 10/22/2006 10:41:00 PM
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