Hello my son has just recently been diagnosed he is 5 years old I just found out my husbands insurance won't cover Aba therapy and we were denied Medicaid because of income we are unable to afford to pay out of pocket do you guys know of any other avenues I'm a desperate mom trying to help my son
Does he qualify for Regional Center Services?
Although people advocate for ABA it is not the best choice for everyone. I have seen many children benefit from Occupational Therapy focussing on sensory integration. ASD is a neurological disorder, the world can feel very overwhelming and difficult to process (Sounds, lights, people).
Depending on what state you are in, some have a separate Medicaid that only counts the child's income (which is nothing) . In many states it is called Katie Beckett or deeming waiver.
Go to your city's Regional Facility, and there you can get a diagnosis, usually ABA services are provided through them. My son was diagnosed in 2001 through our Regional Facility, he got OT and ABA services through them. Unfortunately he never got speech services. My husband and I had to pay out of pocket back then because med insurance didn't want to cover it, it was very expensive. I live in CA.
Have you tried to apply for disability for him? I know you won't get any financial help through disability, but you should be able to get insurance for him through disability. I think. I could be wrong, but there is nothing wrong with looking into it. Sorry I can't help more than this..
If you can't get a Medicaid waiver, look into the Michigan health insurance marketplace (Obamacare). Buy your son an individual policy that covers ABA.