TACA Family Stories

Before		During		After

I had Christian when I was 19 years old.  For the first year of his life I couldn’t imagine anything being wrong with my baby.  He smiled; he laughed; he rolled, crawled and walked on time.  At age one he had a massive overload for his little immune system.  He had two ear infections, a high fever, back to back treatment of major antibiotics and he was given his MMR, varicella and HIB vaccines while he was still very sick.  Christian faded away for the next 6 months.

At age two he was diagnosed with full syndrome Autism.  I met an amazing mother who introduced me to the group Talk About Curing Autism.  Before I found out about TACA, I had no clue that there was hope for my child. From that day on I knew that it was my job to get my son back and undue what had been done to him.

It has been three years since Christian was diagnosed with Autism.  I had taken what I had learned from TACA, found wonderful therapists, began a diet, found a DAN! Doctor, and took control of my child’s health.  I heard his first word when he was 38 months old, and let me tell you, it was worth the wait.   

Today Christian attends a typical private preschool. He is the only child in the class with a diagnosis…and none of the other parents know that.  He speaks clearly, has friends, reads, pretends on the playground and even knows what he wants to be when he grows up (which of course changes weekly). 

I can honestly say, if I had not found that mom (you know who you are), and not been introduced to TACA, I don’t know where Christian would be today and I don’t know if I would ever have been able to help other parents starting this journey.  Thank you TACA, thank you my hero mom, and thank you Christian for fighting this with me.  I love you.

Chelsi, Washington State

Autism & Insurance

There are a number of efforts happening throughout the country to get autism treatments, or at least ABA therapy, covered in states. Parents and advocates are working together to get coverage. You can help too. Keep reading.           

States that have insurance legislation in place (some better than others):

• Arizona: Effective June 30, 2009. Covers therapy costing as much as $50,000 per year up to age 9, $25,000 per year up to age 16.
• Colorado: Effective July 1, 2010. Covers ABA birth to age nine at $34,000 a year, then $12,000 a year until age 19.
• Connecticut: Effective January 1, 2010. Covers ABA and assessments under the age of 15.
• Florida: Effective April 2009. Covers $36,000 per year, $200,000 lifetime up to age 18.
• Illinois: Effective December 2008. Covers up to $36,000 per year of treatment until age 21, plus Early Intervention.
• Indiana: Already in effect
• Louisiana: Effective January 1, 2009. Covers $36,000 per year up to age 17.
• Minnesota: Already in effect
• Montana: Effective Jan. 1, 2010. Covers diagnostics and treatments up to $50,000 per year from birth to 8, $36,000 a year from age 9-18.
• Nevada: Effective January 1, 2011. Covers ABA up to $36,000 a year, until age 18, or if still in school, until 21.
• New Jersey: Effective February 9, 2010. Covers screening and therapies up to $36,000 per year.
• New Mexico: Effective June 19, 2009. Covers diagnostics and treatment until age 22, with numerous limits and caps.
• Pennsylvania: Effective July 1, 2009. Covers $36,000 per year up to age 21, no lifetime cap.
• South Carolina: Effective July 1, 2008. Covers $50,000 per year up to age 16.
• Texas: Effective January 2010.  Covers treatment until age 10.
• Wisconsin: Effective November 1, 2009. Covers $50,000 for 4 years, then $25,000 annually.

Please see www.autismvotes.org for more information on each state’s laws.

Want to get involved? Join the Autism Insurance Legislation Advocacy Group

Parity means that if a particular therapy or treatment is covered for one diagnosis on their plan, then it’s also covered for autism. 

Coverage means what treatments are covered.  The issue with ABA in particular, is that ABA is not a treatment for ANY other diagnosis and the insurance companies have been using that in denials. 

YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS!  You live in North Carolina but your insurance policy is funded and written out of Colorado.  Whose law governs your insurance?  Colorado.  The state where the insurance policy is funded and written is key.  The front page of your policy usually states where it’s written and funded. 

See Listing of all Autism & Insurance Articles

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