Boy with Autism is Denied Insurance Claim
When Ashburn resident Shelly Mills learned her son Nicholas had autism two years ago, she was determined to do whatever necessary to get him the treatment he needed. After he began treatment, Mills learned that her son’s insurance claim was denied. She has shocked and devastated.
She says, “[y]ou assume that when you have a medical plan, it’ll be taken care of. It’s not a mandated thing. [Autism] is in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual as mental illness.” This means that autism and all other developmental disabilities are not usually covered by medical insurance plans. Families with children suffering from autism spend thousands of dollars a year for necessary treatments such as; speech therapy, occupational therapy, and applies behavioral analysis for the child.
One couple, the Davis’s, have a five year old-son Alex who has autism and they say, “[i]t’s a big financial burden. It’s s a lot of out-of-pocket expense.” Totaling about $50,000 s year of which the insurance company pays none of.
This is the main reason why parents all over the region are supporting for the passing of Virgina House Bill 93, which would require health insurers in the state to provided state health insurance with individuals suffering other developmental delays.
On July 28th they will be holding an Autism Summit at 6 p.m. at the Potomas Club in Landsdowne. The summit will aim to rally local parents, therapists, and community activists to spread the word about supporting the insurance bill.
For more information click here.