Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that requires health insurers to provide coverage for autism.

Highlights:

• Requires all health insurance providers and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

• Prohibits insurers and health maintenance organizations from doing any of the following:
• Terminating coverage or refusing to renew coverage solely because an individual is diagnosed with or treated for an autism spectrum disorder;
• Limiting the number of visits an insured individual may use for treatment of autism spectrum disorders;
• Denying or limiting coverage of treatment for autism spectrum disorders on the basis that the treatment is educational or rehabilitative; and
• Subjecting coverage of treatment for autism spectrum disorders to dollar limits, co-pays, deductibles, or coinsurance payments that do not apply to coverage for treatment of physical illness.

• Authorizes insurers to limit coverage of treatment for autism spectrum disorders to insured individuals under the age of 18.

• Exempts insurers from any requirement to provide prescription drug coverage unless the insured individual is covered by a prescription drug plan.

• Exempts short-term insurance policies lasting no more than 6 months from the provisions of this bill.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires health insurers to provide coverage for autism.

Highlights:

• Requires all health insurance providers and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

• Prohibits insurers and health maintenance organizations from doing any of the following:
• Terminating coverage or refusing to renew coverage solely because an individual is diagnosed with or treated for an autism spectrum disorder;
• Limiting the number of visits an insured individual may use for treatment of autism spectrum disorders;
• Denying or limiting coverage of treatment for autism spectrum disorders on the basis that the treatment is educational or rehabilitative; and
• Subjecting coverage of treatment for autism spectrum disorders to dollar limits, co-pays, deductibles, or coinsurance payments that do not apply to coverage for treatment of physical illness.

• Authorizes insurers to limit coverage of treatment for autism spectrum disorders to insured individuals under the age of 18.

• Exempts insurers from any requirement to provide prescription drug coverage unless the insured individual is covered by a prescription drug plan.

• Exempts short-term insurance policies lasting no more than 6 months from the provisions of this bill.

Full Bill Text