South Carolina Health Plans to Cover Autism

S.C. health plans to cover autism
By Savannah Morning News
Created 2007-06-01 23:30
Kirsten Singleton | Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 12:30 am

COLUMBIA, S.C. [1] - For families of autistic children, the financial options are few and often unattractive. Ask grandparents for help. Take out a second or third mortgage. Limit their children's treatment or pay for it themselves, sometimes at an annual cost of $50,000 to $60,000.

"A lot of families, in most cases, Mom stays home and tries to learn the best she can to try and do it (the treatment) on her own," said Craig Stoxen, president of the South Carolina Autism Society.

Now, though, the state is stepping in to offer help.

Among the 47 S.C. bills that became state law this week is a provision that requires health insurers to cover disorders such as autism and Asperger's syndrome.

There are exceptions and exemptions, such as for small businesses, but the state health plan is included.

"All I know is, being stuck in the middle with two autistic children, it's as necessary for insurers to cover (autistic children) as it is if they had diabetes or muscular dystrophy or cancer," said Aiken resident Amy Weeks, who has two autistic teenagers.

The requirement is projected to cost employers about $10.6 million annually, including $6.57 million to the state's general fund.

Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach, hopes state agencies can use discretionary funds to cover the cost this year so the state doesn't have to wait for next year's budgeting process to start funding the plan.

Elliott said it'll be cheaper for the state to pay to treat autistic children than to pay for their institutionalization if treatment was unavailable.

"It's comparing nickels and dimes to hundred-dollar bills as far as the cost to taxpayers and cost to the state," he said.