Autism insurance coverage has become a topic of debate as the rate of autism continues to increase in the general population and families struggle financially to pay for the costs of healthcare treatment for their autistic children.
No Answers for Autism. Doctors and medical researchers are unable to explain the drastic increase in the number of autism cases in the United States. In the meantime, the number of children being diagnosed continues to rise without explanation. For example, in some areas of Florida, the rate of autism in young boys is 1 in 65. Without autism health insurance coverage many families are forced to choose between autism treatment for their children or bankruptcy.
The Push for Autism Insurance. The Autism Speaks organization has been a beacon of hope in pushing for autism insurance coverage in each state. As a result of their efforts, concerned parents, and other children’s advocates, there are now 33 states offering some form of autism health insurance coverage. The type of autism coverage varies, and is limited in most states, but the fact that there is even some coverage is an improvement.
Families in Financial Crisis. Middle and lower income families that have children diagnosed with autism urgently need autism insurance coverage. Autistic children may require physical therapy, speech therapy, behavioral therapy, and a hosts of medical tests and other treatments. Such services could exceed a thousand dollars or more a each month. Additionally, it is difficult and sometimes impossible for these parents to find daycare services for their autistic toddlers and preschoolers; when they do find daycare services the cost could be as much as two thousand dollars a month.
The Need for National Coverage. The autism epidemic in the United States is just one of the reasons that a national healthcare plan is needed. Everyone, regardless of their medical conditions and health needs, should be covered by medical insurance. It is still hard to believe that the U.S. is one of the only modernized countries that does not provide healthcare coverage for legal residence and citizens.