According to a new report from the Missouri Department of Insurance, nearly 4,000 Missourians received insurance coverage for autism treatment in 2011. A new law requiring health insurance companies to cover specific autism treatments took effect January 1, 2011. The department's report shows 3,805 Missourians filed claims for autism-related treatment during the law's first year.
The report states that total insurance claims for autism-related treatments were $4.3 million in 2011. This dollar amount accounts for 0.1 percent of total claims paid by health insurers during 2011.
Per John M. Huff, director of the Department of Insurance: "This report shows good news on two fronts. First, it shows that the new law has already helped thousands of Missourians. Second, it shows the autism mandate should have minimal impact on health care costs and insurance premiums."
The law calls for health insurance companies to cover $40,000 for autism treatment, to be adjusted annually by the director of the Department of Insurance using the Consumer Price Index. On January 31, Director Huff signed an order increasing the maximum benefit to $41,263 for 2012.
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