Daily pay of $2,295 just to get better. An out of pocket intensive outpatient treatment plan will cost somebody over $2,000 everyday. Statistics show that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. The vast majority of individuals who suffer from mental illnesses such as eating disorders aren’t getting treatment because of the high price. An estimated 30 million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder, and with the healthcare system that is implemented in the United States, only 1 in 10 people are seeking the help they need. (South Carolina Department of Mental Health).Health care in treatment for people who suffer from mental illness such as an eating disorder should be little to no cost, because eating disorders kill as cancer.
A right to health care could save a person’s life. A study from Harvard shows that, “lack of health insurance is associated with as many as 44,789 deaths per year” (Shmerling, Robert H, M. D.) This interprets a 40% heightened risk of dying among the not insured. If citizens in the United States had better access to health care, this could change their lives. For example, people who have eating disorders can develop osteoporosis starting at a very young age because their bones aren’t developing. A common symptom for girls to have during an eating disorder is amenorrhea. Amenorrhea is the absence of a regular menstrual cycle. For example, I was diagnosed with an eating disorder this past year and have not had a regular menstrual cycle; this could prevent them from having children in the future. Not having enough money to help you get the help you ends up being a punishment. Healthcare should change to keep people alive. However, many people contend that being able to have programs for eating disorders that are little to no cost is expensive. On the contrary, people also view universal healthcare to be way expensive and think it would take money away from the government. People didn’t choose this life for themselves. Universal health care could save a person’s life. They shouldn’t take away the right to get better. People deserve to be treated so they can live a happier life.
People who suffer from mental illnesses are not getting the appropriate amount of care. Evidence indicates that, “About 80% of the girls/women who have accessed care for their eating disorders do not get the intensity of treatment they need to stay in recovery – they are often sent home weeks earlier than the recommended stay” (South Carolina Department of Mental Health). That is like if your medical doctor only gave you partial treatment for an infected wound and sent you home hoping you can figure out the rest for yourself. Individuals are being sent home 1.) because they don’t have enough money to support themselves, and 2) they “look” healthier. However, it is important to realize that eating disorders do not have a specific look; you don’t have to be emaciated to have disordered eating. People go undiagnosed if they don’t fit the media perception of what an eating disorder looks like. Enough individuals think they aren’t in danger and shouldn’t spend the money on treatment because they aren’t skin and bones. When in reality, there are many different kinds of eating disorders and you can be malnourished in many ways. In spite of people needing therapy, most would counteract by saying that if people were given a right to health care it would raise taxes, and that people who have an eating disorder did this to themselves. It is self-inflicted and they should just have better willpower and want to recover. (Eating Disorder Myths)At the same time, it is said that the amount of time you have suffered from disordered eating will take either the same amount of time to recover, but most likely longer. Only about 29% of people will reach full brain recovery in 5 years. Also, about 26% of people who have eating disorders will try and take their own life. (Eating Disorder Statistics) Furthermore, it would not be a problem to pay a little higher price in taxes if you’re giving somebody a chance of free life.
The cost to get the treatment needed is an abundant amount of money. People are paying quite an amount of money but not getting the highest amount of care needed. Harvard researchers say, “Despite spending far more on healthcare than other high-income nations, the US scores poorly on many key health measures, including life expectancy, preventable hospital admissions, suicide, and maternal mortality”(Harvard Medical School). Working class families do not have enough money to pay off the extravagant price therapy could be. Additionally, just alone in the U.S. prices range from, “$500 per day to $2,000 per day. The average cost for a month of inpatient treatment is $30,000” (South Carolina Department of Mental Health). With the amount of money it takes to pay for only one month to be at a corrective institution you could buy 10,000 Happy Meals at Mcdonalds. Conversely, the technology of the medical field won’t expand. With people focused on trying to keep costs down in hospitals and treatment facilities. Regardless, eating disorders can cause heart problems and diabetes. It can also affect tooth decay and destroy your liver and kidney. People who don’t have enough money to get the treatment they need will be malnourished and their brains won’t be able to function. The brain wants to get enough oxygen if the body is in survival mode. (Clementine N) It is more beneficial to liberate someone then have them suffer inside.
Universal healthcare should be a right. With universal health care implemented we can slow down the number of deaths caused by mental illness such as eating disorders. Citizens should be able to afford the care they need to return back to a healthier state. Healthcare should not be a privilege to only those that can afford it. Wellness to protect your family, friends, loved ones, and yourself should not be a luxury. Everybody deserves the chance to live.
Work Cited
Clementine N. (2021, February 5). 7 health consequences of not getting professional treatment for anorexia nervosa. Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://clementineprograms.com/treatment-for-anorexia-nervosa/.
Eating disorder myths. National Eating Disorders Association. (2019, August 22). Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/toolkit/parent-toolkit/eating-disorder-myths.
Eating disorder statistics: General & Diversity stats: Anad. National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. (2021, March 3). Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://anad.org/get-informed/about-eating-disorders/eating-disorders-statistics/.
Shmerling, Robert H, M. D. (2021, July 13). Is our healthcare system broken? Harvard Health. Retrieved October 15, 2021, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-our-healthcare-system-broken-202107132542.
South Carolina Department of Mental Health. (n.d.). South Carolina Department of Mental Health. Eating Disorder Statistics. Retrieved October 15, 2021, from http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/anorexia/statistics.htm.
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