If you've searched online for health insurance that covers binge eating then you are probably for looking for established UK based health insurance providers that can cover your binge eating.
Our advice when shopping around for private medical cover that covers binge eating is to speak to a insurance broker. Health insurance is incredibly complicated and if you want complete certainty that binge eating is covered by your policy you should talk with a broker who can explain which policy providers will cover this medical condition and which will exclude it.
There are many advantages to using a broker but the biggest by far is that you're using their industry experience at no cost. They are paid by the insurer (Aviva or Bupa etc) rather than you so it costs you no extra to use their services.
- Do you reside in many different areas? Some will give you a cheaper policy premium than offers. A insurance broker will be able to advise whats best.
- Do you have a hobby that may invalidate your insurance policy? A broker will know this vital information.
- If you are a couple and one of you has claimed on your insurance policy this year would it be cheaper to separate you both onto two different policies?
- You've lean't you're at risk of developing a certain medical condition and want to know which policy provider offers the largest amount of cover for it. A broker will know this instantly saving you so much time and effort.
You can call around every medical insurance provider you can find and ask if they cover binge eating, however this will be a very time consuming process. Each insurer will ask for your medical history because its not normally a simple yes or not if a medical condition is covered or not.
Its much quicker to speak to one health insurance broker which will know which providers on the market cover binge eating and under what conditions they do or don't cover it.
Binge Eating Information
Binge eating is an eating disorder where a person feels they have to overeat through regular binges.
People who binge eat consume very large amounts of food over a short period of time, even when they’re not hungry.
Binges are often planned in advance and can involve the person buying ‘special’ binge foods.
In some cases, people describe themselves as being in a ‘dazed’ state during a binge – particularly binges during the night – and can’t remember what they ate.
People who binge eat feel they have no control over their eating. They often binge in private because they feel embarrassed, guilty or disgusted with their behaviour after they’ve finished eating.
Episodes of binge eating sometimes alternate with periods where the person cuts down on the amount of food they eat. This can lead to a vicious cycle that’s difficult to break, where blood sugar levels rise and fall rapidly. Your blood sugar level affects how hungry you feel and how much energy your body has. When the levels go up and down quickly, this sends false messages to the brain and causes cravings for food when your body doesn't need it.
Anyone can be affected by binge eating. It’s estimated that there’s around a 1 in 30 to 1 in 50 chance of a person developing binge eating disorder at some point during their life.
It’s most common for the condition to develop in young adults. It can take a long time for people to feel able to seek help.
Many people occasionally overeat – this doesn't necessarily mean you have binge eating disorder. However, if you’re worried about your eating habits, the best thing to do is talk to your GP.
Binge eating disorder can be treated using a number of talking therapies, including guided self-help and cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-ED).
Learn more about talking therapy
Learn more about self-help therapies
These treatments can help you overcome the psychological issues associated with your binge eating, but they won't usually have a significant impact on your weight.
If you’re worried you have binge eating disorder, the first step is to go to your GP for a medical check-up and advice on how to get treatment.
Find a local GP using Scotland's Service Directory