New Jersey Now Requires Health Insurance Companies To Cover Care for Autism

New Jersey Now Requires Health Insurance Companies To Cover Care for Autism in Politics and Legislation

In a continued budding national trend, New Jersey becomes the latest state to mandate autism health insurance coverage for diagnosis and treatment.

The bill was signed into law today by Governor Jon Corzine.

New Jersey has the highest rate of autism in the country. In a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 1 in 94 children have autism compared with 1 in 152 in the rest of the country, reported the Associated Press.

Initially, the bill faced opposition from groups who were afraid the mandate would drive up costs, wrote the article.

But the resistance wasn’t enough to kill the legislation, which now requires health insurance companies to cover medically necessary treatments for autism-related health issues.

“This [bill] is one of those things that will make a difference, not just for today and tomorrow but for long into the future,” said Governor Jon Corzine.

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Virginia Lawmakers Strike Down Autism Health Insurance Bill

Virginia Lawmakers Strike Down Autism Health Insurance Bill in Politics and Legislation

Families in Virginia fought hard to pass a state bill that would require health insurance companies to cover the medical services of autistic children.

But today, that bill was killed in the state Senate.

According to the Washington Post, Virginia state Senators couldn’t come up with compromise. Business and health insurance groups also lobbied hard against the passage.

Lobbyists argued the bill was a bad idea during an economic recession, and would impose an expensive mandate.

One lobbyist estimated the mandate would cost $40 million a year for the state.

“It would probably become the second most expensive mandate in Virginia, and maybe the first,” said the lobbyist.

Initially, the bill included all autistic children. After no progress, state Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel tried to compromise by capping the age at 12, then even at 6 years old. Still, the bill failed.

It brings up a key debate in the world of health insurance — should autistic children have guaranteed health insurance coverage?

Already, there’s a Florida health insurance law that mandates coverage for autism (read more about it here), and Ohio is considering a similar law as well.

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Louisiana Health Insurance Companies Now Must Cover Care For Children’s Autism

Louisiana Health Insurance Companies Now Must Cover Care For Children’s Autism in Individual Health Insurance

Last week, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed a bill requiring all of the state’s health insurance companies to cover the treatment of autism for children under the age of 17.

The new law goes into effect on August 1, but does not mandate autism coverage until January 1, 2009, reported The Times-Picayune.

State Representative Franklin Foil (R-Baton Rouge) introduced the bill and it was easily passed by state Legislature — with only one vote against.

The bill gives children with autism an annual maximum benefit of $36,000 with a lifetime benefit of $144,000.

Representative Foil wanted higher maximum benefits, but faced opposition from insurance companies, wrote the article.

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Web Browser For Autistic Children

Web Browser For Autistic Children in General Healthcare

Autism is a very complex developmental disability. And it affects more than one in 150 children in the U.S., according to the Autism Society of America.

Children who have autism may have trouble with social interaction and communication, and at different degrees of severity, explains the Autism Society.

In particular, some autistic children find it hard to use a computer and surfing the Internet.

John LeSieur from Saint Remi, Quebec, noticed that his grandson with autism has difficulty browsing the web — frustrated by the number of options, amount of content, and advertisements.

So he developed a web browser that makes surfing the net easier for autistic children by blocking adult content, ads, and other unnecessary clutter.

LeSieur’s program, named the Zac Browser after his grandson, uses large icons for users to click and only brings up certain websites and emphasizes education material, reported the Boston Globe and the Associated Press.

The Zac Browser even disables unnecessary keys on the keyboard and the mouse’s right-click button to simplify a computer’s functionality.

The AP article pointed out that autism affects every child differently, and this web browser won’t be useful for all children.

But the Zac Browser seems to have a warm welcome.

It can be downloaded for free at http://www.zacbrowser.com.

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Florida Governor Signs Health Insurance Bill For Uninsured Residents

Florida Governor Signs Health Insurance Bill For Uninsured Residents in Politics and Legislation

Just after Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed a bill giving broader health insurance coverage for residents with autism, he signed another measure today to reduce the number of uninsured residents.

The bill drafted by the governor a few months ago would create a new kind line of health insurance — a Florida health insurance plan that doesn’t have to provide some state-mandated coverage. Without mandated coverage, the cost will be lower than other plans, explained Governor Crist.

Crist says uninsured Florida residents can get these stripped-down plans for as low as $150 per month, reported Forbes and the Associated Press.

Under the new law, called Cover Florida, insurance companies will be able to participate in the mandate-free programs where certain services don’t have to be covered.

Florida state law mandates the coverage for roughly 50 different medical services. While the article doesn’t specify all of them, it said some screening services, transplants, and some maternity care will be excluded in these new plans.

Critics of the plan say it doesn’t provide enough coverage, but proponents point out it’s better than nothing.

“It is not the Cadillac of health plans, but it offers something very, very important for the citizens of our state,” said Governor Crist.

Any Florida resident who is between the ages of 19 to 64 and has had no health insurance for six months or more will be eligible for the new plans. Children who do not qualify for state-subsidized coverage from KidCare are eligible for the Cover Florida plan, as well.

The bill also lets unmarried children stay on their parents’ health plans until age 30, and gives small businesses broader access to things like Medical Savings Accounts.

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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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Ohio Lawmakers Consider Bill To Require Insurers To Cover Autism

Ohio Lawmakers Consider Bill To Require Insurers To Cover Autism in Individual Health Insurance

Lawmakers in the Ohio State House of Representatives are considering a bill that would require insurance companies to cover the medical treatment of autism. The bill has bipartisan support — and Representatives Jon M. Peterson (R) and Ted Celeste (D) are sponsoring the measure. 

The Ohio bill is similar to legislation recently passed by the U.S. Senate which requires insurance companies to cover mental health conditions equal to physical conditions.

Many health plans will cover the diagnosis of autism — a brain developmental disorder — but won’t cover the treatment. The bill would force insurers to cover autism treatments including speech therapy, home health aides, and psychiatric care.

The measure would help many families who can’t afford to pay for autistic care out of pocket. Supporters of the bill also say the measure will give autistic children early access to the treatments they need.

“Autistic children need 30 hours to 40 hours of intervention a week,” said director of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Jacquie Wynn. “With short-term, early intervention in their early years, you see the payoff in their lifetime.”

Insurance industry representatives are worried the bill will mean more mandates requiring insurers to cover health conditions, reported the Plain Dealer. But they are still waiting to learn more details of the measure.

What do you think? Should insurers be required to cover treatments for autism?

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