It’s no surprise to anyone that prices across the board have been wildly increasing since around 2020, and they haven’t slowed down. Recent statistics suggests that consumer prices overall have risen around 25% since 2020 in the US, with even higher increases seen in areas like food (30%) and housing.
Sadly, the healthcare industry hasn’t been immune to these price hikes, and it’s having a devastating impact on families who rely on these services to survive.
Some families in Las Vegas, for instance, who have autistic children that heavily rely on ABA therapy have been noticing their co-pays increasing and the overall price of their insurance plans is going up as well. What’s more, the current administration recently passed a budget bill, which could harm individuals with special needs who take advantage of ABA therapy. For many parents, it feels like a lifeline is being pulled out from under them.
Tommy and Stacy Riccardo, two Las Vegas parents of an autistic child, say that ABA therapy is the bridge between their son and the world. They describe the services as essential, and now they feel forced to choose between their finances and their child’s progress. River, their son, has gained social and life skills with ABA therapy. When River was just six years old, his father said he had already memorized the entire periodic table. While he showed significant progress in intelligence, it was clear that River was struggling in other areas, including articulating his needs and managing social challenges.
To help bridge the gap, River has a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) by his side at public school. His RBT helps him implement ABA techniques that support his success and, more importantly, keep River safe. Without a personal RBT with him at all times, River will attempt to run away from school.
Previously, the RBT help was covered by insurance, but recently, his insurance plan completely denied the ABA therapy services. This move was unusual given that the family uses Health Plan of Nevada, which is under the UnitedHealthcare umbrella, for insurance. Without insurance, the same program would cost the family $17,000 a month.
Since the family cannot afford it at this time, River is no longer attending therapy. He is also no longer able to attend school safely. Instead, River must spend all his time at home.
Another Las Vegas family says her son’s ABA therapy sessions have jumped up from $0 to $80 a day. She has also withdrawn her son from most classes because she can only afford a few days a week.
The Nevada Autism Center: Empowering Bright Futures
Here at the Nevada Autism Center, we focus less on insurance and billing and more on the families we serve.
If you need help determining if our services are covered, then we’re prepared to help. Call us at (702) 660-2005 to get in touch, or submit your contact details via our online enrollment form.
