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RSSEnd Insurance Discrimination in New York
Mar 08
Most insurance companies treat therapies for autism spectrum disorders the same way they’d treat a broken arm… limiting the number of treatment sessions on a “per condition” basis. Apparently, they’re not aware that autism spectrum disorders don’t knit together quite as neatly as a non-displaced fracture of the tibia and fibula.
Thankfully, the legislature is finally getting around to doing something about that. There’s a bill currently making the rounds in Albany that would require insurance companies doing business in New York to provide proper care and screening for autism spectrum disorders — sort of a no-brainer, given recent studies showing that autism spectrum disorders now affect 1 in 110 kids.
“Parents across New York and around the country are paying for health insurance that denies them the services they need the most,” said Bob Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks. “Families are literally going broke trying to give children the therapies they need and deserve to meet their full potential. It’s time that we eliminate this unfair burden and end insurers’ blatant discrimination against children with autism.”
“This bill has the potential to be one of the most comprehensive autism insurance laws in the country,” said Peter Bell, executive vice president of programs & services for Autism Speaks. ”It provides coverage for treatments for individuals with autism throughout their lifespan. Furthermore, since many national and regional companies are headquartered in New York, this legislation has the potential to extend to thousands of individuals across the country thereby having a major impact on the national autism community.”
To read more about this bill, and for information on contacting your local representatives, please visit AutismVotes.org.