About Our Multi-State
Insurance Initiative

Most states do not require private insurance companies to cover even essential autism treatments and services. In the absence of coverage, families often pay as much as they can out-of-pocket for services that can cost upwards of $50,000 per year. In the process, many risk their homes and the educations of their unaffected children – essentially mortgaging their entire futures. Autism Speaks, together with other autism advocacy groups, is working to change state insurance laws to require private health insurance policies to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders for individuals under the age of 21.

The insurance legislation supported by Autism Speaks specifically targets coverage of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and other structured behavioral therapies, which are the most effective forms of treatment and have the best outcomes, both in human costs and in long-term economic benefits. Nationwide, few private insurance companies or other employee benefit plans cover Applied Behavior Analysis and other behavioral therapies. In fact, most insurance companies designate autism as a diagnostic exclusion, meaning that no autism-specific services are covered, even those that would be used to treat other conditions.

Where in the U.S. is there an Autism Speaks Insurance Reform Initiative?

Click above to enlarge

The map above provides a graphical representation of where each of the states stand with regard to their progress on creating an autism insurance reform law.

Helpful Links

• Draft of President-Elect Barack Obama's Federal Mandate for Autism Insurance Coverage
  President-Elect Barack Obama has drafted comprehensive autism legislation, including a section addressing a broad based federal autism insurance mandate
   
• Autism Spectrum Disorders Mandated Benefits Review Panel Report
  This report details the cost effectiveness of autism insurance coverage and, while prepared specifically for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, this analysis can be presented as evidence in all states.
  
  Report Summary Conclusion:  “The evidence submitted to the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Commission is sufficient to evaluate the impact of the HB 1150 mandate. The analyses and research papers support a finding of marginal premium increase costs of approximately $1 PM/PM attributable to the ASD benefit. These cost increases are modest relative to: ongoing insurance cost increases; estimated cost offsets for families and the Commonwealth; and better results for children and youth with ASD. The clinical and cost effectiveness research studies provided indicate that improvements in clinical and role functioning and quality of life can be anticipated for those children and youth with ASD who use evidence based behavioral therapies, including Applied Behavioral Analysis.”
  
  
• Autism Speaks Model Legislation
  This document contains the necessary policy components for an autism insurance reform bill.
  
  
• Arguments in Support of Private Insurance Coverage for Autism-Related Services
  This document contains the responses to common objections to autism insurance coverage you may encounter and the studies and research papers that support the conclusions. 
  
  
• Autism Speaks State Initiative Map
  A printable version of our map and information from the column to the left. 
  
  
• Want to speak to someone in YOUR community about autism legislation? 
  Find your community's Autism Speaks Chapter Advocacy Chair and contact them with any questions!