state laws forcing autism coverage

A look at state laws forcing autism coverage

October 19, 2008

In 2006, Indiana’s insurance commissioner ruled that a law adopted earlier required private health insurers to cover applied behavior analysis, a specific and costly type of autism therapy. In the past two years, other states have adopted their own laws ordering insurance coverage for this treatment.Arizona: Effective June 30, 2009. Covers therapy costing as much as $50,000 per year up to age 9, $25,000 per year up to age 16.

Florida: Effective April 2009. Covers $36,000 per year, $200,000 lifetime up to age 18.

Louisiana: Effective Jan. 1, 2009. Covers $36,000 per year up to age 17.

 

Pennsylvania: Effective July 1, 2009. Covers $36,000 per year up to age 21, no lifetime cap.South Carolina: Effective July 1, 2008. Covers $50,000 per year up to age 16.

Texas: Took effect Jan. 1, 2008. Covers children over age 2, up to age 6.

 

 

Source: Autism Speaks and state insurance commissioners