Guest guest Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 *Autism Insurance Bill Passes Both Houses* On November 20^th , both House of the Illinois General Assembly passed Senate Bill 0934. The bill, sponsored in the Senate by DeLeo (Chicago) would require insurance companies to provide individuals under 21 years of age coverage for autism spectrum disorders including diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. The coverage shall be subject to a maximum benefit of $36,000 per year. Many individuals have struggled with costs of diagnosis, treatment and therapies that were not covered by their insurance coverage. A November 21^st CNN article quotes the Autism Society of America that a family's lifetime costs for caring for a child with autism can reach as high as $5 million. Each month, parents report they pay thousands of dollars for treatment and therapy. And in most cases, insurance, even good insurance, won't cover all of the fees. SB0934 was sent to the Governor on November 25^th . The Chicago Tribune (November 21^st ) stated Governor Rod Blagojevich <http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/politics/government/rod-blagojevich-PEPLT00\ 7479.topic>'s office said he plans to sign the legislation. Furthermore the article added about 4,500 families across the state will qualify for coverage. The action marks a victory as early intervention and therapy is key to helping children with autism gain communication and social skills. If your Senator or Representative voted in favor of SB0934, please contact them and thank them for their support for autism insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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