51 by 51

Lifted the age cap on Autism health coverage

Continuing our week of highlighting healthcare related accomplishments from the Republican-led House of Delegates, this year Delegate Bob Thomas carried legislation to lift the age cap on autism health coverage, expanding access to health insurance for about 10,000 Virginians diagnosed with autism. 

Currently, state law only says that health insurers must offer such coverage for individuals from age two through age 10. No other prevalent health condition including– asthma, diabetes and cancer– has coverage limits imposed based on the age of the patient. Coverage for all other health conditions is based on medical necessity. 

Many of these children are not diagnosed until they are already six or seven years of age and need access to important care for longer than just three or four years.

This piece of legislation has been a long time coming and with its passage this year it is one of our 51 accomplishments by the 51 members of the Republican-led House of Delegates.