Calif. Insurance Companies Must Cover ABA Autism Treatment

As the number of autism cases continue to rise, so does the demand for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) treatment. While ABA is often the most recommended treatment for children with autism, it is often unaffordable to the many families who need it and insurance companies often do nothing to remedy this situation.

The need for ABA treatment has become so high in demand that it reportedly costs the state of California more than $200 million per year alone. In the entire state of California, at least 75 firms exist for the purpose of ABA treatment, but most have long waiting lists and most cost more than $50,000 per year for one child.

Until recently, autism treatment was covered by state tax payers as well as the families that struggle to pay for these necessary sessions. However in October 2013, California passed a law requiring private health insurers to include ABA coverage in their policies, putting immense relief on families everywhere.

This means that insurance companies such as Blue Cross, Wellpoint, and Anthem are now required to give coverage to any legitimate claims which request ABA autism therapy coverage.

Before this law was passed, these and other insurance companies often denied families requesting ABA coverage because it was not a life-threatening situation, or simply dismissed the claim without sufficient reason. It is important to note that many of the claim denials came from a general ignorance of autism in terms of what the condition is, how severe it can be, and why treatments such as ABA are vital for the child’s development.

Additionally, many of these insurance companies had been found using unethical claim denial tactics against these families to find an excuse to deny coverage. California has now joined at least a dozen other states in using the law to assure that its citizens have access to necessary family resources. Any family who faces an insurance claim denial after requesting ABA coverage may have the option of filing a ABA insurance denial lawsuit.

Overview of Applied Behavioral Analysis

Applied Behavioral Analysis is considered the standard of occupational therapy for autistic children in developing the necessary basic skills for life. Therapy can last up to 40 hours per week with a trained therapist working with a particular family. The therapist will work with the child through speech therapy, occupational therapy, and other medical issues that can go along with the disorder. This can also include additional expenses, such as hiring trained babysitters to watch over children with autism.

This intense therapy instills and conditions a modified version of normal human behavior for the particular child, which is meant to be in tune with his or her particular learning process. Ideally, by identifying how the child relates to his or her environment and isolating a targeted behavior, the methods of ABA can be instilled to correct the targeted behavior.

In 2007, a clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that the benefit of ABA-based therapy interventions has been well documented to work, and even improve a child’s quality of life. The academy went on to say that it has been well documented that “children who receive early intensive behavioral treatment have been shown to make substantial language, academic performance, and adaptive behavior as well as some measures of social behavior.”

Essentially, ABA is the premier choice of autism therapy because it has been proven to work and families want those results.  However, with the steep cost of $50,000 per year, it is vital that insurance companies work alongside state regulations to insure that these children get the therapy they deserve.

Join a Free Autism Treatment Insurance Denial Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If your child was denied autism treatment insurance coverage for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), speech therapy, and occupational therapy, you may have a legal claim. Submit your information now for a free and confidential case evaluation at the Autism Treatment Insurance Denial Class Action Lawsuit Investigation.