At AST, we keenly understand the process involved to compel insurance companies to make autism medical insurance available. When you select AST as your Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), occupational therapy, or speech therapy provider, you gain the advantage of our knowledge and expertise in getting your insurance provider to pay for your program. Our unique and specialized staff is dedicated to working with your family and your insurance company. We navigate the complex insurance system for you and work towards getting insurance coverage for all of your child’s therapies.
You may be an ideal candidate for our insurance program, and we may be able to assist you if:
- Your child has a medical diagnosis for autism or a related developmental disability
- You have health insurance
- You or a professional believe your child could benefit from ABA, speech therapy, or occupational therapy
- Or, you have a denial letter from your health insurance provider on covering ABA therapy
To get the process started or for more information on autism health insurance, call (866) AST(278)-1520.
Current Insurance Coverage
As of January 2012, there are 29 states that mandate coverage for ABA therapy for certain health plans, and more states are coming on board each year. An increasing number of employers have added ABA therapy benefits to their health care plans, and quite recently two of the largest carriers (Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield) have indicated that they will cover certain autism related expenses. Please consult with your Human Resources department to find out if your employer is one of these companies, or ask if such a benefit can be added. If enough people request it, employers will increasingly add this coverage over time.
With the right amount of persistence, parents are getting their ABA programs funded and insurance for autism is becoming a reality. In most cases, insurance plans will cover more hours of ABA intervention than other sources. It’s definitely worth the quest for autism medical coverage!
For a list of states that mandate coverage, or to learn more about what’s happening in your state and see how you can help, please visit Autism Votes and click on your state. Autism Votes is part of Autism Speaks and is an excellent resource for news and information regarding autism legislation.
If you happen to live in one of the states that does not mandate coverage (or if your plan is not subject to the state mandate), or if you received a denial of coverage or claim rejection, you may appeal this decision. Contact us for details. We’re happy to assist you.
The Future of Insurance Coverage
The great news is that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), as currently proposed, commonly known as ObamaCare, will provide coverage for behavioral therapies, including ABA, for most insurance plans beginning in 2014. Please stay tuned.
