LANSING – State Representative Roy Schmidt (D-Grand Rapids) today joined supporters, children with autism and their families at State Capitol to raise autism awareness and show support for a plan to require health insurance companies to cover autism treatments. The event was held in accordance with National Autism Awareness month.
"Today, one in 150 children are affected by autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined," Schmidt said. "The fact that health insurance companies continue to refuse to cover treatments for this disorder is flat-out unacceptable. This is about improving the quality of life of children with autism. These are treatments that will help our children reach their full potential, and it's time that they are covered by health insurance companies."
Currently, most health insurance companies cover only autism screenings, leaving families with children who have the disorder to bear the high costs of treatment on their own. Treating autism can cost a single family $50,000 or more annually, and it can cost roughly $3.2 million to provide autism treatment for an individual over his or her lifetime.
According to the Michigan Department of Education, an estimated 13,839 children in Michigan had some form of autism in 2008. Between 2001 and 2006, the number of children in Michigan public schools diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder increased by more than 100 percent, according to the Autism Society of Michigan.
House Democrats recently launched an online petition for residents who would like to show their support for the plan and raise autism awareness. Residents can sign the petition at www.housedems.com/petitions by clicking on the autism petition graphic.
"No one should be forced to go untreated when this type of care is available, nor should a family be forced to shoulder such a heavy financial burden," Schmidt said. "Raising autism awareness and requiring health insurance companies to cover autism treatments will take a tremendous weight off the shoulders of countless Michigan families. This is a common-sense plan that needs to be enacted for Michigan's families."