Anne Eliason, left, watches her son Isaac, 5, play at a neighborhood park in Highlands Ranch, Colo., on Monday, June 4, 2012. Isaac has been diagnosed with autism and his family moved from Utah to Colorado because of the insurance options and the superior therapeutic and support services for Isaac. Isaac has appointments nearly everyday to work on speech, occupational and behavioral therapy. Photo by Chris Schneider

When the Eliasons realized their youngest child had autism, their lives changed forever.

The diagnosis wasnt the only reason.

What states require insurance companies to cover autism?

Several dozen states have an insurance mandate although the rules vary. Check with each state individually for the most up-to-date information. bit.ly/ItajXh

What would a Utah mandate cost?

Advocates and some studies say that adding an autism mandate would have a nominal impact on premiums. See a past look at that issue in Utah at http://bit.ly/youNzl.

“It was hard enough to discover that he had autism, but then it was just an added burden to know we didnt have a way to financially take care of him unless we left the state,” said Brian Eliason, Isaacs dad.

As a data specialist at Intermountain Healthcare, he was covered by its insurance arm, SelectHealth, which didnt pay for autism treatment for his son.

Read the original here:
Without insurance for autism, Utah families leave state

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