Utah Lawmakers Embrace Autism Insurance Mandate

It took three years and tortured negotiations that lasted until the final day of the Legislative session.

 
But early on Thursday lawmakers gave a final nod to SB57, a bill that would require some state-regulated insurers to cover autism treatment. Pending the governor’s signature Utah will join 34 other states with autism mandates.
 
The bill will bring relief to many families struggling to afford expensive Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy for their kids — but not all families, and not immediately.
 
Only large employer and individual health plans sold or renewed starting Jan. 1, 2016, are subject to the mandate.
 
These plans would have to cover 600 hours of therapy annually for children between the ages of 2 and 9, with families picking up co-payments and deductibles.