Ohio autism advocates push for more insurance coverage

Ohio may soon join a growing list of states that require insurance companies to cover treatment for autism (Source: "Ohio parents seek insurance help to pay for the high cost of autism treatment,"
Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 7, 2008).

More than two dozen states already have laws on the books that require some level of insurance coverage for autism, according to the National Conference of State Legislature.

"It's an incredible burden on families, who have to deal with a system that doesn't respond," said Ted Celeste, a suburban Columbus Democrat who co-authored H.B. 170, which would require insurance companies to cover autism treatment.

The Ohio Association of Health Plans opposes the proposed bill, arguing that it would be difficult to estimate the cost of the law because there are so many unknown variables involved with autism.

"From our standpoint we're going to provide whatever Congress and the government tell us we have to provide," said Kelly McGivern, president of the Ohio Association of Health Plans. "It's the employer and individual that are going to suffer because the premium is going to rise."