Hello everyone my 2y5m son is newly diagnosed and just found out my husbands insurance is self funded and does not cover ABA services. He works for Bergen county in NJ. I do not qualify for Medicaid and am looking at spending close to 6,000 dollars a month. It’s too late to apply for health insurance in the marketplace because according to them this is not a life changing event. Anyone have some advice or insight they could share. I feel hopeless and frustrated.
Please explain
NJ is the #1 state to live in with a child with ASD. I was in NY so services are similar. Find a preschool for children with special needs that offers ABA. OT was the only service that required a “prescription” everything else was just supported and provided for by the school per the ISP.
Yeah, they tell parents to go for early intervention but it's not readily available for various reasons. Under 3 years old is pretty young to treat someone with ASD so it's not a complete disaster. Spending $36,000 for six months of ABA isn't worth it. Even if he was eligible for services. There's usually insurance red tape and wait lists so it's not really 6 months. It took us took 2 or 3 months to get ABA when we moved last time. Don't get a guilt complex because of some stupid government regulations. I didn't even ask my Dad for financial help even when he was close to the end of his life and had plenty of money.
Go for the open enrollment in 2019.
"If you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period or Medicaid or CHIP, you can apply for 2019 Marketplace coverage in the fall. Come back later for exact dates."
https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-guide/dates-an...