Ariz. Legislature Backs Insurance Mandate for Autism Coverage
West News • March 19, 2008
A bill approved by the Arizona Legislature would mandate insurance coverage for diagnosis and treatment of autism.
A 23-6 Senate vote completed legislative action on the bill (HB2847) previously ...
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Subject: Insurance for Autism-Arizona
Posted On: March 20, 2008, 10:05 am CDT
Posted By: Jean R
Comment:
Being a teacher of Students with Significant Disabilities(including severe Autism) for over 30 yrs.I see this proposal as a double edged sword.If a company will insure ASD they better insure ALL severe disabilities,including Cerebral Palsy,and all the hundreds of other different kinds of syndromes and Non-specified disorders,all of which are extremely costly for the families as well as the schools and community resources.
Programs that I have seen as the most beneficial over the years are 1) Early Intervention(language,joint attention and behavior based)2) Functional curriculum in schools(Language,social skills,pre-vocational)3)Thorough neurological diagnoses and treatment throughout their life,which is the costliest but very necessary.
What I want to emphasize is the need for continued research,and encourage the insurance companies to be sure that they understand there is no "cure-all" programs(even though there are new ones every day),and that kids with ASD will always need assistance,that insurance can only supplement marginally.
West News 
Subject: Insurance for Autism-Arizona
Programs that I have seen as the most beneficial over the years are 1) Early Intervention(language,joint attention and behavior based)2) Functional curriculum in schools(Language,social skills,pre-vocational)3)Thorough neurological diagnoses and treatment throughout their life,which is the costliest but very necessary.
What I want to emphasize is the need for continued research,and encourage the insurance companies to be sure that they understand there is no "cure-all" programs(even though there are new ones every day),and that kids with ASD will always need assistance,that insurance can only supplement marginally.