LANSING – Scoring a major victory for children with autism and families across the state, Oakland County lawmakers today voted for a plan that requires health insurance companies to cover treatments for autism. The plan now heads to the Senate.
"When insurance companies discriminate against children with autism, they prevent them from reaching their full potential," said State Representative Lisa Brown (D-West Bloomfield). "It's time to put the care and treatment of our children ahead of insurance industry profits."
The national nonprofit group Autism Speaks estimates that one in every 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer and diabetes combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. According to the Michigan Department of Education, an estimated 13,839 children in Michigan had some form of autism in 2008.
Unfortunately, most health insurance companies cover only autism screenings, leaving families to pay $50,000 or more each year for treatment. If untreated, it can cost approximately $3.4 million to provide care for an individual with autism over his or her lifetime. On average, treatment will cut that cost by more than half. The Center for Affordable Health Insurance estimated in March that including coverage for autism treatment in health insurance plans would raise premiums by less than 1 percent.
"Today, we've struck a major blow against this discriminatory practice," said State Representative Vicki Barnett (D-Farmington Hills). "Ten years ago, health insurance companies refused to cover the treatment of diabetes, and the Legislature was forced to act. Now, the treatment of diabetes receives comprehensive coverage from health insurance companies. Kids with autism deserve the same comprehensive coverage that's going to allow them to reach their full potential. This plan will help many of them do just that."