Re: Ask the candidates - insurance bill SB1900

[Guest guest]

Cindi...I have not seen the written version of the bill. I am told that it

covers autism and related spectrum disorders.

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[Guest guest]

IT is hard to say what, how, and when changes can be made to the bill....I

am not a lobbyist or legislator! I seem to remember however that the Medicaid

Waiver started off as an autism waiver...perhaps this bill will take a similar

path.

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[Guest guest]

That bill is terrific for those on group plans who work for very

large corportations, but for those of us who have or own insurance,

or work for smaller companies, it makes it even harder for us. Most

carriers require companies with less than 50 employess enrolled for

insurance to have the employees fill out a medical questionaire and

then the rate for that employee is based on that. For years, we were

unable to find individual insurance (when we weren't able to be on a

group plan) that would cover our daughter. If it weren't for All

Kids, we would have been in serious trouble. We did go six months

without insurance on our daughter before All Kids came into

existance. IMO, the better approach would be to make all children

with special needs eligible for Medicaid and let Medicaid cover what

the health insurance doesn't cover. Or we may find more companies

not offering health insurance.

>

>

> In a message dated 1/13/2008 11:21:33 A.M. Central Standard Time,

> teri_steinberg@... writes:

>

> I am looking for answers to things like funding, research, early

> intervention, insurance coverage....

>

>

> I posted this yesterday on the autism lists...and since you

mention

> insurance I thought I should inform this list as well...please read

on!

>

> ********************************

>

> Everyone:

>

> I am thrilled to let you know that Senators DeLeo and Skip

Saviano

> introduced SB 1900 this week in Springfield. This bill will

mandate insurance

> companies in Illinois pay for speech, OT, PT and evidence-based

therapies for

> children with autism and autism spectrum disorders. The cap on

services is

> $36,000 annually and it covers children to age 21.

>

> The Autism Society of Illinois whole-heartedly supports this bill.

>

> Instrumental in getting the bill introduced is Pete DiCianni...a

parent of a

> child with autism from Elmhurst.

> This bill is sure to be a centerpiece of all autism related

legislation

> introduced this session, but this is a major undertaking and will

not be an easy

> fight. We ask you to phone, email, write state legislators in your

district in

> support of IL Senate Bill 1900 and tell everyone you know to do

the same.

> Also, please mark your calendars and plan to attend Autism Lobby

Day in

> Springfield on April 15 in the Capitol Building Rotunda.

>

> The following link will help you find the contact information for

your

> legislators. Please cut and paste it into your browser, find your

representatives

> and be sure to contact them.

>

> http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx?

NavLink=1

>

> thank you

>

> L.

> President-Autism Society of Illinois Board of Directors

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> **************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in

shape.

> http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?

NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have a question regarding this insurance proposal. In this message it

indicates the coverage is for children with autism. Does this mean children

with Angelmans

fragile X

Down

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

EtC are not covered by this proposed legislation.

Cindi Swanson

[Guest guest]

I too echo what I think are Cindi's concerns and 's concerns.

It is too late to address some of these issues in this legislation?

I know that there is no " perfect " legislation but if we get this right, it could

help a lot more families. Would it be possible to propose using DSM IV

Diagnostic categories that would include the disabilities that Cindi mentioned,

?

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: Ask the candidates - insurance bill SB1900

I have a question regarding this insurance proposal. In this message it

indicates the coverage is for children with autism. Does this mean children

with Angelmans

fragile X

Down

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

EtC are not covered by this proposed legislation.

Cindi Swanson

[Guest guest]

Good point, .

I would always like to see more children covered if at all possible.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: Ask the candidates - insurance bill SB1900

IT is hard to say what, how, and when changes can be made to the bill....I

am not a lobbyist or legislator! I seem to remember however that the Medicaid

Waiver started off as an autism waiver...perhaps this bill will take a similar

path.

**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

[Guest guest]

thank you Ellen. legislation is always being amended, so it is never too

late. Take a look at our transit funding legislation. I would recommend

using the definition for DD in the state as a starting point for any

legislation that applies to this population. My son is verbal, but he

certainly has communication needs. He will always benefit from o-t . He is

strong and probably would not benefit from p t. He has Down Syndrome.

It is up to consumers to be wise and use these services well. A near by

school district has a day long kindergarten class exclusively for kids with

autism.

Kids with other significant disabilities who could benefit from a day long

kindergarten are not eligible because they don't have autism. The school

does not have another full day offering. This kind of inequity occurs

whenwe we vie for disability specific legislation. I would hate to see

this kind of imbalance persist in NEW legislation / services in a state

where services are so hard to get. Support by disability pits people

against one another, competing for scarce dollars when we should be working

together.

Cindi

[Guest guest]

Even as a parent of a child with autism, I agree with you Cindi.

I understand that families of children who have autism, often feel as though

their children are unable to access some supports and services specifically

because of their autism, but that is really not a good reason to legislate

disability specific laws that continue to pit one group against another. We

need to break down the barriers that limit access to individuals with autism or

any other developmental disability and work toward providing appropriate

supports so that access is equal and universal.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: Ask the candidates - insurance bill SB1900

thank you Ellen. legislation is always being amended, so it is never too

late. Take a look at our transit funding legislation. I would recommend

using the definition for DD in the state as a starting point for any

legislation that applies to this population. My son is verbal, but he

certainly has communication needs. He will always benefit from o-t . He is

strong and probably would not benefit from p t. He has Down Syndrome.

It is up to consumers to be wise and use these services well. A near by

school district has a day long kindergarten class exclusively for kids with

autism.

Kids with other significant disabilities who could benefit from a day long

kindergarten are not eligible because they don't have autism. The school

does not have another full day offering. This kind of inequity occurs

whenwe we vie for disability specific legislation. I would hate to see

this kind of imbalance persist in NEW legislation / services in a state

where services are so hard to get. Support by disability pits people

against one another, competing for scarce dollars when we should be working

together.

Cindi

[Guest guest]

Why are we mandating insurance companies to cover autism related services like

OT, Speech, Social work, etc, only until age 21? If the insurance will cover

the individual as a dependent with disabilities for life should they not also

cover the related services?

Gloria

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/14/2008 7:25:05 P.M. Central Standard Time,

prentice50@... writes:

Why are we mandating insurance companies to cover autism related services

like OT, Speech, Social work, etc, only until age 21? If the insurance will

cover the individual as a dependent with disabilities for life should they not

also cover the related services?

Gloria

Gloria and all...

I do not believe Pete DiCianni who is responsible for the introduction of

SB1900 monitors this list. I will answer this question based on my one

conversation with him!

Pete has a good knowledge of legislation and of the insurance industry. The

bill was carefully crafted in terms of the amount and age

limitations...presumably to give it the greatest chance of passage. AS for why

other

disabilities are not included all I can assume is that his focus is on his

child who has

autism.

**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489