Post by title1parent on Feb 1, 2009 9:28:26 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/opinions/letters/1407745,2_4_AU01_LETTERS_S1.article
Autism insurance law helps families
Image that a family member of yours has a health or mental health issue, but the insurance company won't pay for a diagnosis. Perhaps insurance will pay for the diagnosis, but won't cover treatment.
Now imagine therapy is necessary to improve their condition, but the insurance company won't pay for it. This was the situation many families with children with autism found themselves in.
Some estimates put the lifetime medical costs of raising a child with autism at $5 million. This would be a large financial burden for any family.
In spite of the car crash of Illinois state government some accomplishments were made in 2008. One was the passing of an Autism Insurance bill, sponsored by State Senator James DiLeo. Now families affected by autism have insurance coverage up to $36,000 per year for diagnosis through therapy.
The legislation passed overwhelmingly; however, since I Iive in Aurora, I must thank our own three legislators. Senator Linda Holmes not only voted for the legislation, but was a sponsor of the bill. Representative Linda Chapa LaVia has been a consistent friend of the developmentally disabled. Senator Chris Lauzen has been a consistent "yes" vote for autism legislation as well as being good for a personal phone call explaining his reasoning.
This new law will help many families affected by autism. For those who have children or loved ones with autism, please call your state representative and senator and thank them for passing this legislation.
I look forward to another successful year of legislation toward assisting the developmentally disabled.
Dean Myles Aurora
Autism insurance law helps families
Image that a family member of yours has a health or mental health issue, but the insurance company won't pay for a diagnosis. Perhaps insurance will pay for the diagnosis, but won't cover treatment.
Now imagine therapy is necessary to improve their condition, but the insurance company won't pay for it. This was the situation many families with children with autism found themselves in.
Some estimates put the lifetime medical costs of raising a child with autism at $5 million. This would be a large financial burden for any family.
In spite of the car crash of Illinois state government some accomplishments were made in 2008. One was the passing of an Autism Insurance bill, sponsored by State Senator James DiLeo. Now families affected by autism have insurance coverage up to $36,000 per year for diagnosis through therapy.
The legislation passed overwhelmingly; however, since I Iive in Aurora, I must thank our own three legislators. Senator Linda Holmes not only voted for the legislation, but was a sponsor of the bill. Representative Linda Chapa LaVia has been a consistent friend of the developmentally disabled. Senator Chris Lauzen has been a consistent "yes" vote for autism legislation as well as being good for a personal phone call explaining his reasoning.
This new law will help many families affected by autism. For those who have children or loved ones with autism, please call your state representative and senator and thank them for passing this legislation.
I look forward to another successful year of legislation toward assisting the developmentally disabled.
Dean Myles Aurora