Roger Holt's Library tagged insurance →  View Popular, Search in Google

In the United States, caring for a child with special health care needs usually means higher medical expenses for a family - particularly for low-income families, who spend a disproportionally large share of their income on their child's care. Yet the amount of financial burden for these families also depends on their state of residence, according to Paul T. Shattuck, PhD, professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis [Pediatrics, 124: S435-S442].

"The percentage of low-income families in a given state with out-of-pocket expenses that exceeded 3 percent of their income varied considerably according to state and ranged from 5 percent to 25. 8 percent (District of Columbia and Montana, respectively). Families living in states with more generous Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) benefits report less financial burden," Dr. Shattuck said.

At least 15 states mandate some type of insurance coverage for autism treatments. Now an advocacy group is offering a set of frequently asked questions breaking down the basics of each state’s law.

The fact sheets created by Autism Speaks’ lobbying initiative Autism Votes and the George Washington University Law School offer a plain English guide to what’s covered by autism insurance legislation in each state.

Mental-health care for thousands of Montanans covered by group health insurance plans will be more affordable in 2010 thanks to a new federal law.

Congress passed the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act in October 2008 as part of the multibillion-dollar federal bailout package.

The law, which took effect Jan. 1, prevents insurance plans that cover treatment for mental illnesses and addictions from placing stricter limits on those services than on other covered services. It does not require plans to cover treatment for mental health and substance abuse.

The health care bill emerging from a key Senate committee now includes expanded independent living options and autism insurance coverage, both of which are good news for people with disabilities, advocates say.

The Senate finance committee agreed last week to include an amendment mandating insurance coverage for behavior treatments used with those who have autism. Similar legislation has passed in many states, but advocates say a federal mandate is key.

HELENA - State health officials today rolled out plans to sign up as many as 30,000 uninsured Montana children for publicly financed health coverage, under the voter-approved Healthy Montana Kids program.

The program, overwhelmingly approved by Montana voters last year, expands the eligibility for two government programs already in existence: Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP).

As of next Thursday, the programs will be open to any family earning up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $55,125 for a family of four.

Insurance premiums (monthly payments) would increase slightly for everyone if insurance companies pay for autism-related services and therapy.

The authors calculated how many people have been getting autism-related therapy, and how much those therapies cost. Then they figured out how much it would cost private insurance companies to pay for it. They estimated that the monthly payments for all of the people insured by private companies would go up about 0.2-2%.

On Wednesday, Autism Speaks, an advocacy organization, rolled out this  commercial on cable television news stations, calling on the U.S. Congress to  end insurance discrimination against those with autism. The commercial depicts  two little boys, one who has had his treatment covered and another who has  not.