Well, Shuis, you can use the "I can't afford treatment" for a while, but at some point you really do get to the point where you can't afford NOT to have treatment. Truly. Much better -- and cheaper, for that matter -- to get that treatment before you need hospitalization with all the expensive bells, whistles, and tube feeding. I've never had to be tube fed, but I understand it's not pleasant. Can't be cheap, either. Wouldn't you like to avoid that?

My doctor isn't on my insurance, so I submit his bills after paying him. If you're not on an HMO, you can probably do the same. Or, you could call and fight with your insurance -- ANAD has people who help with that, because a lot of insurance companies want to nickle and dime ED patients. Contact ANAD, and see what happens.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's OK to say that you can't afford treatment, as long as you understand that you're making an excuse in order to stay sick. I've done it myself, so that's not criticism, just asking you to be honest with yourself.

I hope you'll look into ways to get treatment. If nothing else, find out what ANAD groups there are in your area, and get some support there. They're free, so you can't use that cost thing, 'K?

Good luck.