RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia's Governor signed a bill Thursday which will ensure individuals with autism, no matter their age, will have access to adequate health insurance.
Currently, state law says that only health insurers must offer such autism health coverage for individuals from two-years-old to ten-years-old.
The new law will remove the age cap for autism coverage, expanding access to care for nearly 10,000 Virginians living with autism, including transition-age youth and adults.
It will go into effect on January 1, 2020.
“One of my primary motivations for entering public service was finding an avenue to address the frustrations and challenges that I would routinely encounter as a physician trying to help families navigate the insurance landscape,” said Governor Northam. “Now, individuals with autism will have access to the coverage they need, no matter their age—that will have a profound impact on Virginia families. Both Democrats and Republicans have been working on this issue for years and I’m proud to sign this legislation that exemplifies what we can achieve when we come together to improve the lives of the Virginians we serve.”
The Centers for Disease Control said Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability. Autism Spectrum Disorder is complex and lasts throughout a person’s lifetime.
“I am so grateful for the legislature’s and Governor’s support of this bill. With passage, we finally give people of all ages with autism spectrum disorder access to health insurance coverage,” said Senator Jill Vogel. “As someone who worked on this legislation for more than ten years, I have seen the impact on families whose children were cut off from coverage. We only succeeded this year because of their hard work and unbelievable commitment all of these years.”
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