ASD children of working parents are often discriminated against as many health insurance plans do not provide (or may severely restrict) coverage for behavior therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy and other therapies regardless of the needs of the child. Currently, only the children whose parents can afford to pay out of pocket can get the needed therapy for their children during non-school hours. Please call your legislator and ask him or her to support private insurance coverage for autism related services to age 22.

http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/findmember3.cfm

[Although expanding Medicaid coverage to cover these treatments is also being considered, the high-cost makes it extremely unlikely that this will move forward with Medicaid especially as the State is seeking to cut expenses.]

 2/18/2011 update

As per Act 127, two study reports were compiled to “… evaluate the feasibility and budget impacts of requiring health insurance plans, including Medicaid and the Vermont Health Access Plan, to provide coverage of autism spectrum disorders.”  The final reports were submitted to the Legislature on February 16th and were a result of a collaborative effort between the Agency of Human Services, the Department of Education and the Agency of Administration.
 
Report to the Legislature: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/reports/2011ExternalReports/265773.pdf
Act 127:  http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/Acts/ACT127.pdf
           
For more information on insurance coverage for autism related therapies, please visit our website at http://www.vtcair.org/  .
 
 
Ron Marcellus & Lisa Erwin-Davidson, Co-Chairs
Vermont Coalition for Autism Insurance Reform