From CNN:

Parents of children with autism say their budgets are being broken by the cost of therapies for their children, which can exceed their family’s income. The Autism Society of America is now estimating that a family’s lifetime costs for a child with autism can reach as high as $5 million.

Over the past few years, under pressure from parents, states have been adopting legislation that would require insurance companies to cover the medical cost of treating autism. Many of the bills already passed around the country mandate applied behavior analysis or ABA, a controversial technique that some health plans consider experimental.

The insurance industry opposes such mandates, arguing that they will drive up the cost of health care for everyone. But parents say it’s time to stand up for their kids.

Carol Nunez of Potomac Falls, Va, (above) says monthly cost of therapies for her son Ethan is more than the family’s income.

Earlier posts here.

(CNN photo)

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 18th, 2008 at 9:21 am and is filed under autism, families, insurance, law. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.