LANSING – State Representatives Jon Switalski (D-Warren) and Jennifer Haase (D-Richmond) today joined supporters, children with autism and their families at the 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.
"Health insurance companies that refuse to cover treatments for autism are turning their backs on thousands of Michigan children," Haase said. "We cannot allow this unfair treatment to continue any longer. It's time our children and their families who are affected by autism receive the support they need."
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.
The lawmakers 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.
In addition, the House today adopted a resolution introduced by Switalski urging the U.S. Congress to increase funding for autism research.
"Many residents may know what autism is, but it's important that they understand how prevalent it can be," Switalski said. "This is a disorder that affects one in 150 kids, and more kids are being diagnosed with autism each day. Health care companies who decide not to cover treatments are turning their backs on a generation of Michigan's children. We need to put an end to these practices and stand together to improve the quality of life of these kids."