| Having a child diagnosed with autism makes for difficult | | | | can sometimes take months or years. |
| adjustments in family plans and financial goals. For | | | | In the meantime, these uninsured children must still |
| families with no insurance, the prospect of paying for | | | | undergo treatment and therapies for their autism |
| therapies, doctors, diagnostic testing, medications, and | | | | spectrum symptoms and challenges. However, there |
| adaptive equipment looms like an insurmountable | | | | are still options available. Virtually every state has a |
| challenge. However, there is hope and help available to | | | | system in place to allow families to apply for Medicaid |
| these families that can help take the burden off of | | | | for their child based on need rather than income. |
| excruciatingly high medical and therapeutic costs. For | | | | These policies and waivers are known under different |
| many families without major medical coverage, the | | | | names in each state. However, each program works |
| first option is to apply for Social Security Disability | | | | virtually the same. A family applies for Medicaid for the |
| benefits for their child. These benefits include access | | | | child. If their income is too high and they are denied, |
| to federally funded medical programs like Medicaid. | | | | filing a petition for a hearing under the state's |
| Unfortunately, getting approval for SSI benefits for a | | | | need-based program or statutes begins the process. |
| child with autism is not as straight forward as it may | | | | Rather than proving the child is disabled enough to |
| seem. While children with classic autism are easily | | | | warrant assistance, these waiver programs and |
| recognized and diagnosed, and therefore are virtually | | | | regulations require only that the family demonstrate the |
| considered disabled by default, other areas of the | | | | child's needs versus the family's income. When a child's |
| spectrum are not as clear cut. For example, many | | | | medical care for their autism diagnosis exceeds certain |
| children are diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental | | | | limits compared to the family's income, the income may |
| Delay - Not Otherwise Specified. These children are | | | | be disregarded to allow the child to get Medicaid |
| believed to be somewhere on the autism spectrum, | | | | benefits regardless of parental income. These waivers |
| although where in particular is unclear. For these | | | | can often make the difference in the quality of care a |
| children, professionals may often debate the validity of | | | | child receives. This option is often much quicker than |
| a spectrum diagnosis. This can make qualifying for | | | | applying for disability benefits and covers the child with |
| disability benefits difficult. Often families must fight to | | | | the same medical benefits. |
| prove adequate disability on behalf of the child. That | | | | |