By Jonathan Slack, Market Research & Development Specialist
New Jersey has expanded their autism insurance mandate. New Jersey originally passed their autism insurance mandate in 2009. At its inception the mandate covered individual plans, state employee health plans, and fully-insured large and small group plans – making it one of the better autism insurance mandates in the country. Now New Jersey is one of the first states to eliminate the age cap limits for adults with autism.
Here’s the breakdown on what these changes mean:
- Previously, insurance companies in New Jersey were only mandated to provide medically necessary treatment, including Applied Behavioral Analysis, to individuals younger than 21 years of age.
- Now the New Jersey mandate applies to adults with autism.
- Additionally, the new mandate eliminates the 30-visit-per-year cap on occupational, physical, and speech therapy.
Thankfully, the majority of the autistic population will not need Applied Behavioral Analysis. After all, the point of therapy is to not need therapy in the future. However, the individuals that are severely autistic will now have options to continue receiving treatment that will improve their skills and their lives.
Source: www.autismnj.org
