Eating Disorder Treatment and Insurance Issues in California
Kantor & Kantor, LLP Understands Your Difficult Situation
Dealing with and seeking treatment for eating disorders can be emotionally and financially devastating. When your health insurance company gives you a hard time, or when it denies payment for benefits, matters only go from bad to worse. We can help, Kantor & Kantor, LLP has developed a specialized legal practice representing clients whose claims for treatment of eating disorders, and dual diagnosis (substance abuse and other co-morbid conditions) have been unfairly denied by their health insurers or benefit plan. Kantor & Kantor, LLP's aggressive approach to litigation and legislation has brought justice for clients who have found themselves fighting for their insurance benefits when benefits were wrongfully denied.
Kantor & Kantor, LLP (K&K) represents an increasing number of young women and men suffering from life-threatening eating disorders and dual diagnosis conditions, whose health plans refuse to pay for required treatment on the grounds that such life-saving treatment is "not medically necessary," only necessary at a lower level of care, or is limited by plan terms.
HARLICK v. BLUE SHIELD OF CALIFORNIA NOTICE - On August 26, 2011, thanks to the excellent efforts of attorneys Lisa Kantor & Elizabeth Green of Kantor & Kantor, LLP, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of Jeanene Harlick and held that California's mental health parity act required Blue Shield to pay for her care at a residential treatment facility. Read the Court's decision by clicking the link above.
Two Things You Should Know During Treatment in California
Seeking Legal Assistance for Treatment of an Eating Disorder With Kantor & Kantor, LLP
At Kantor & Kantor, LLP, we understand that dealing with and seeking treatment for eating disorders can be emotionally and financially devastating. When your health insurance company denies payment for benefits, matters only go from bad to worse. We can help.
Use the Tips Below to Advocate for Insurance Coverage for Eating Disorder Treatment:
- Once your claim has been denied by your insurance company, contact Kantor & Kantor, LLP for help. Until you have an actual denial in writing, your insurance company may change its mind and cover your treatment.
- In order for us to help you, you must receive treatment and stay in treatment, even after a denial of benefits. You must be able to STAY in treatment.
We understand that treatment is extremely costly. When your insurance company denies coverage, this can become an even more stressful time focused on financial burden rather than recovery and treatment. In order for you to focus on recovery, we advise following your treatment providers' recommendations for treatment protocol, level of care, and length of treatment. Let us work with your insurance company to help with that part of your journey. We will seek reimbursement of the benefits available under your policy.


Residential Treatment
For many clients, residential treatment is the most appropriate and effective level of care for treatment of their eating disorder and related conditions.
The American Psychiatric Association's Practice Guidelines include residential treatment as an essential step in the spectrum of treatment for eating disorders, falling between inpatient hospital care and outpatient care. Professionals involved in the treatment of eating disorder have produced concrete evidence that residential care treatment is optimal to prevent relapses and promote healing because it addresses both medical and psychological issues. Some insurers ignore this accepted standard of care, however, providing coverage only for hospitalization or outpatient care.
In order to obtain residential care, policyholders frequently must sue their health plan or insurer to pay for treatment. That's where we come in. We are one of only a few legal practices in the United States that will represent eating disorder patients denied health benefits for residential treatment.
We represent clients in litigation and are available to advise clients during the administrative appeals process. We also appeal cases to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals if necessary.
In addition, we fight for our clients in the legislative arena, appearing at administrative hearings before state insurance boards to inform lawmakers of standard of care issues surrounding eating disorders when crafting laws that govern insurance benefits.
How Has Our Advocacy Changed California Law?
At Kantor & Kantor, LLP, our attorneys have the skills, experience, and tenacity you deserve. Get to know more about our team, the types of cases we handle, or get started with us by completing a contact form today.
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Learn more about our legal team and discuss the details of your case by completing our contact form or by giving us a call at (877) 220-0556 . Our consultations are free.