Florida Governor Signs Health Insurance Bill For Autism Coverage

Florida Governor Signs Health Insurance Bill For Autism Coverage in Politics and Legislation

Today, Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed legislation that will provide health insurance coverage for many children living in the state with autism.

According to the new Florida health insurance law, large group health insurance plans will be required to agree with the state on how they’ll cover the medical care for the developmental disease, reported the Florida Times-Union and the Associated Press.

By July of 2009, regardless of agreements, the state will require insurers to cover certain care related to autism.

In total, those with autism will get $36,000 in coverage for a year and $200,000 in lifetime coverage.

The law also gives the state the ability to negotiate with insurers to provide coverage for other developmental conditions, wrote the AP article.

The new law only applies to large group health plans. Small group coverage and individual plans aren’t protected under this measure. 

The only critics of the plan say it doesn’t cover enough children. State Senator Steve Geller, who sponsored the bill, explained the law will over apply to roughly half of all the insured residents in Florida.

Senator Geller hopes the law will eventually be expanded.

Still, there will be many residents in Florida that will benefit from the law.

As Governor Crist signed the bill, he was accompanied by former Miami Dolphins Quarterback Dan Marino — whose son was diagnosed with autism at a young age.

“It’s given me chills actually, just thinking about the opportunity this is going to give so many children in Florida and so many families that have to deal with autism,” said Marino.

“This is a very happy day for an awful lot of people,” said Governor Crist.

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