Insurance companies offer online therapy for insomnia
It’s pretty commonly known that getting a good night’s sleep can affect your weight. Just this week there were stories about kids who sleep less weighing more in adulthood and the fact that people with severe sleep apnea consume more calories, fat and cholesterol than people without the problem.
Insurance companies are out to make sure their customers are getting enough sleep by increasingly offering cognative behavior therapy online for people who need it.
Such therapy is said to be more effective than pills because it can actually cure the problem rather than just covering it up. And health insurance companies stand to save a lot of money on all those sleeping pill prescriptions, not to mention helping people who have other health problems that are made worse by lack of sleep.
Good sleep is a big expense
It’s estimated that 50 to 70 million Americans have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, and prescription sleep aids like Rozerem and Lunesta cost four or five dollars a pill, or $1,500 a year for someone who takes them every night.
Use of such pills went up by 50 percent between 1998 and 2006, according to a report in the journal Health Affairs. On the other hand, in-person counseling can cost between $300 and $1,800 and up, depending on the type of practitioner and how many sessions are required (usually between three and six).
Online behavioral programs like the health insurance companies are offering cost just $40 a person.
How online programs work
The program being used by Highmark, Aetna and Kaiser Permanente has users think about where their thoughts and beliefs are coming from and reminds them that not all worries are based on facts. The idea is to stop the cycle of negative thoughts and fear about not being able to get to sleep so the mind relaxes. Various programs differ, but they usually last five or six weeks, with users able to access a session of the program once a week.
They can also repeat the sessions as often as they like to reinforce their good behaviors. If you aren’t enrolled with an insurance company offering such programs, you can buy them online at CBT for Insomnia or My Self Help.
(By Sarah E. White for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)
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November 6th, 2008 at 8:47 am
There’s never been a question in my mind that a good night’s sleep is key to better physical health. The link between not getting enough sleep and obesity – which contributes to the elevated blood sugar levels associated with diabetes – has been substantiated in research. It’s great that these insurance companies are taking a creative and pro-active approach to helping their customers overcome sleep problems. I’ve written extensively about the problems of sleep deprivation, too much sleep and sleep apnea and the risks they pose for people with diabetes on my blog at http://dentistryfordiabetics.com/blog/?s=sleep.
- Charles Martin, DDS
Founder, Dentistry for Diabetics
November 6th, 2008 at 8:54 am
I think its great that CBT is being offered online. It could help a lot of people manage their insomnia over the long term. Other tools, such as sleep diaries that help identify factors that interfere with sleep, and relaxation music/guided imagery which aids in relaxation, can also help. Since different things work for different people, having a lot of options available is good progress towards helping people sleep better.
Melissa
Community Manager
http://www.insomnia123.com