What Do I Need to Know About Autism Coverage?
Most Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan health plans cover or help pay for services that treat autism spectrum disorders for members. Standard autism benefits include:
Your plan may have requirements before it covers or helps pay for some services. Certain employers can customize the plans they offer. They may change which autism benefits are included, what you need to do to get them, or choose to omit them.
That’s why the most important thing you should do before getting services is check your coverage.
The easiest way is to log in to your member account. You can do that using our website or the Blue Cross mobile app.
After logging in, go to My Coverage, select Medical and then What’s Covered. Look for autism. In that section you’ll get information about:
If you see in What’s Covered that your plan includes autism coverage, you should also check your Certificate of Coverage. It will have a lot more information. You can find your Certificate of Coverage in your member account:
Don’t see autism listed or have questions about autism coverage?
Plans can vary when it comes to what they require before getting autism services. To help make sure your plan will cover or help pay for treatment, there are certain things you should check.
Before beginning ABA, you should ask:
Is an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis from an Approved Autism Evaluation Center, or AAEC, required? If yes:
If you have concerns about getting a diagnosis from an AAEC, contact one of the following based on your coverage.
Who can provide ABA?
Is preauthorization from your plan required before starting services?
When preauthorization is required, the analyst or psychologist usually contacts us to get it.
Before getting services, you should ask:
If you have questions about any plan requirements or need help:
Before getting autism services, contact us. We’ll help figure out what you need to do.
Call the mental health preauthorization number on the back of your Blue Cross ID card; it may be called something different, like behavioral or mental health.
Before beginning ABA, you should ask:
Is an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis from an Approved Autism Evaluation Center, or AAEC, required? If yes:
If you have concerns about getting a diagnosis from an AAEC, contact one of the following based on your coverage.
Who can provide ABA?
Is preauthorization from your plan required before starting services?
When preauthorization is required, the analyst or psychologist usually contacts us to get it.
Before getting services, you should ask:
If you have questions about any plan requirements or need help:
Before getting autism services, contact us. We’ll help figure out what you need to do.
Call the mental health preauthorization number on the back of your Blue Cross ID card; it may be called something different, like behavioral or mental health.