Connecticut Insurance Department Classifies Autism Behavioral Therapy As A Habilitative Essential Health Benefit

On April 22, 2014, the Connecticut Insurance Department notified health insurance plans and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in the state that health plans cannot apply dollar limits to autism benefits in plans issued after January 1, 2014 because the state classifies autism services among its essential health benefits (EHB).  Previously, the state's autism insurance mandate required health insurers to provide autism benefits for the insured's dependents, including applied behavior analysis (ABA), up to a specific dollar value based on the child's age. Because Connecticut now classifies autism services as a medical habilitative benefit, rather than a mental . . .