Woman with anorexia issues public plea for help

5th May 2009

Woman with anorexia issues public plea for help

If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one. ~Mother Teresa

I think it’s a tragic conviction of the woeful inadaquecy of our current health care system that a 20-year-old college student with anorexia who wants help has no other recourse than to turn to the public in getting that help. Karina Dewing of Cape Girardeau, Missouri today issued this plea in her local newspaper:

I am a 20-year-old college student, I weigh 83 pounds. Shocking? What’s even more shocking is that I can’t get the help I need. There are no treatment programs in Cape Girardeau or the surrounding area for those who suffer from eating disorders. Since eating disorders are so misunderstood, they can rarely be successfully treated by those who do not specialize in eating disorders. And, in a lot of cases such as mine, in-patient or residential treatment is necessary for recovery. The problem is that those programs are very expensive (around $1,100 a day), and most insurance companies do not cover them.

I am being turned away from the residential program that I need to get better, and there are no government or private-charity programs to help me. I will die without residential treatment. Also, I was hospitalized for three days last month, which cost almost $3,000. My insurance paid $130. Now I, receiving no financial help from my parents and making $1,200 last year, am forced to pay a $2,800 medical bill. Why are we letting insurance companies get away with this? And why are those suffering from eating disorders so overlooked? Why are there no appropriate resources for us within the community?

Know of any resources to help Karina? Contact her at kedewing1s (at) semo.edu.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 at 2:00 pm and is filed under Eating Disorders, Recovery. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On May 5th, 2009, Meryt Bast said:

I don’t know if it will do any good, but I forwarded the letter and email address to Jessie’s Wish. Maybe they can help her. I hope so.

posted on May 5th, 2009 at 3:01 pm

2 On May 5th, 2009, Polly said:

Does the college have any counseling center? I assume she already tried but you never know…

Also Perhaps NEDA http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
would have some thoughts or options if she contacts them.

posted on May 5th, 2009 at 3:36 pm

3 On May 5th, 2009, peggynature said:

Damn, that’s heartbreaking. But I’m glad she’s speaking out about how shitty insurance companies are about eating disorders. And I hope she gets the help she needs.

posted on May 5th, 2009 at 3:50 pm

4 On May 5th, 2009, Brigid Keely said:

If you have mental health issues in this country, and your insurance doesn’t cover them, you are FUCKED. It’s really sick.

I hope this woman gets the help she needs. It’s absolutely disgusting that she has to beg to get it.

posted on May 5th, 2009 at 4:53 pm

5 On May 5th, 2009, Dee said:

I hate insurance companies. I’m going to graduate school to become a social worker to work with people who suffer from eating disorders. I would love to just open up a free clinic to anyone who needs treatment. Unfortunately, I don’t know of any such clinics now for Karina.

posted on May 5th, 2009 at 5:19 pm

6 On May 5th, 2009, demimonde said:

“If you have mental health issues in this country, and your insurance doesn’t cover them, you are FUCKED. It’s really sick.”

That’s assuming you can get insurance, even.

posted on May 5th, 2009 at 5:20 pm

7 On May 5th, 2009, Meems said:

This is horrific. My best friend’s little sister has struggled with anorexia since she was about 11 (she’s 21 now) and is lucky enough to have parents with the resources to pay for treatment. I don’t know where she’d be without the help she’s gotten over the years.

Mental health care in this country is embarrassingly poor. Mental health and psychiatric issues are just as serious and important as physical health (and clearly the two can impact each other) – we need to take care of the whole person.

I really wish I had some resources for Karina. All I can do is wish her the very best. I hope someone does come through for her.

posted on May 5th, 2009 at 6:33 pm

8 On May 5th, 2009, Ali said:

wow this is incredibly sad. I thought we were further along than this in terms of insurance. I hope this girl gets the help that she needs and deserves.

posted on May 5th, 2009 at 11:28 pm

9 On May 7th, 2009, Meryt Bast said:

I heard from Karina. Turns out that the day after she sent the letter to the paper, her insurance contacted her and will pay 95%. She says, “But it’ll still cost me almost $1500 a month, due to that 5%. And I may still have to fight the insurance company. But I can probably work around that, hopefully.” So, that’s some good news.

posted on May 7th, 2009 at 8:07 am

10 On May 7th, 2009, Rachel said:

Why does it take public shaming for the insurance company to stand up and do the right thing?

posted on May 7th, 2009 at 9:08 am

11 On May 7th, 2009, gry-dla-dzieci said:

This is really shameful. Anorexia is a very serious problem that affects tons of men and women around the world, yet at least in my country, no one is really doing anything about it. And it’s fueled even more by the so called “fashion world”. This is by far one of the most tragic diseases (yes, I call it a disease) that appeared during the 20th century.

posted on May 7th, 2009 at 9:38 am

12 On May 10th, 2009, Lily said:

I’ve posted my website, where I talk about what to do for treatment when you are seemingly out of options.

posted on May 10th, 2009 at 1:56 am

13 On May 10th, 2009, Danielle said:

Please read more into the Missouri provisions, if different from the national provisions, of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). It was a tag-a-long bill put on the recent Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (HR 1424). This may help figure out what new issues Missouri faces.

posted on May 10th, 2009 at 6:56 pm