Does Anthem cover eating disorder treatment?

Anthem is one of the largest Blue Cross licensees in the country, now operating under the parent company Elevance Health¹, and it runs Blue Cross plans across a number of states. If you have Anthem, your coverage for eating disorder treatment depends on your specific state plan and benefit design. This page explains how Anthem coverage generally works and how to verify your benefits.

Does Anthem cover eating disorder treatment?

Generally, yes, when treatment is medically necessary, and federal parity law requires behavioral health to be covered comparably to medical care.²³ The 21st Century Cures Act of 2016 also clarified that eating disorder benefits, including residential treatment, are protected under federal parity rules.⁴ Because Anthem operates state-specific Blue Cross plans, networks and benefit details vary by where your plan is based.

What to know about Anthem for eating disorder treatment

• State-based plans. Anthem runs Blue Cross plans in particular states, so coverage, networks, and authorization rules reflect your state's Anthem plan.
• Blue network access. As a Blue plan, Anthem participates in the broader Blue network programs, which can matter if you seek care in another state.
• Behavioral health and medical necessity. Eating disorder care is covered under behavioral health benefits, and higher levels of care require documentation of medical necessity. For ACA-compliant Anthem plans, mental health and substance use services are required essential health benefits.⁵

Levels of care

When treatment is medically necessary, an Anthem Blue plan can cover the continuum, outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential, and inpatient or medical stabilization. Under Elevance Health, Anthem's behavioral health benefits are often managed by Carelon Behavioral Health, which reviews and authorizes the higher levels; what is approved still tracks the rules of your specific state plan.

Verifying your Anthem benefits

The quickest path is a program-run benefits check. Call the number here and a licensed eating disorder program will confirm your Anthem coverage, your state plan's network, and any authorization Carelon requires. Because Anthem's plans are state-based, the answer depends on where your plan is written. For how authorization, cost-sharing, and appeals work in general, see verifying your insurance.

Finding a program that accepts Anthem

Search the directory and call to speak with a licensed eating disorder facility. EDrehab is not an Anthem network provider; the licensed eating disorder programs we connect you with do that directly.