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Lawmakers heard arguments Tuesday on a bill that would require insurance companies to cover treatments for eating disorders.
Commenters who shared their experiences with eating disorders say their insurance companies denied treatment, saying they were not sick enough. But insurance companies opposed the bill, saying it is unnecessary and expensive for taxpayers and small businesses.
The National Institutes of Health reports anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. Emily Estes, a registered dietitian in recovery from an eating disorder, grew up in rural Nebraska. She said many Nebraskans struggle with access to care and the financial impact of treatment, causing delays in care, which can result in organ damage or death.
“Eating disorders are not a choice, but recovery is," Estes said. “That choice can only exist when care is accessible, timely and affordable.”
Gabriella Smith, who has become an advocate for those with eating disorders, said 9% of Nebraskans will experience an eating disorder.
“This bill is not asking for something radical, it is asking for parody,” Smith said. “It is asking that eating disorders be treated like any other serious medical condition.”
But insurers opposed the bill. Jeremiah Blake, a representative from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, argued that because the provision would only apply to insurance coverage the state can regulate, such as Medicaid, the rest of Nebraskans would feel frustration from a lack of coverage and take the financial hit of the bill. He said that taxpayers would have to cover increased premiums, and small companies would shoulder a financial burden.
“They are at a breaking point,” Blake said. “They simply cannot keep absorbing rising health care costs for their employees.”
The committee did not take immediate action on the bill.
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