Comments about ‘Senate panel clears bill requiring insurers to cover autism treatment’

I attended this meeting today - wow, what an amazing turnout and show of support by nearly 200 people in favor of this bill. The woman who drafted the bill for South Carolina, Fraser Bullock, and Clay were fantastic! Along with Dr Paul Carbone presented, they all presented such indisputable information and testimony, there was no way it wouldn't pass.

Funny, we had more in-depth actuarial studies and evidence than the UT insurance group - which they couldn't argue against. And, their only argument is that it only helps 33% of kids ... well that's 1,000+% more than are being covered now! So, if 10 people are on a sinking boat with only 3 life preservers, do you just throw them away because it's unfair to the other 7? What a ridiculous argument.

And as a small business owner (13 employees, including myself), I've had insurance rate increases of 17% and 11%, respectively, over the last two years. I'm thrilled to have a 0.66% increase (based on the #s shown) that will actually add something tangible - and save the lives of kids. Now contact senators to vote yes next week!

As a parent, I'm so thrilled that this bill is moving forward - closer to being passed. Fraser Bullock, one of the smartest and most successful financial minds in the entire country, said he thoroughly reviewed the actuarial studies and feels this is the most financially feasible way to both provide much-needed treatment for kids, and financial relief to the state. And the veteran law professor and policy analyst said this is the most effective way, of any other option, to legislate relief to families, treatment for kids, and savings to the state.

If this was a boxing match, it was over halfway through the first round. KO! I learned so much from being at this meeting. And it was so terrific to see the boy Clay - man was he an inspiration. He was chatting with kids and adults afterwards, laughed and gave thumbs up to the senators when he testified. Everyone I talked to said "That's what I want my kid to be like". And now we have a chance with this legislation. Like that old starfish story - get ready, we get to start throwing lots of treated kids back into society.

There are many medical conditions such as diabetes that require ongoing treatment that medical insurance covers. Autism is a medical condition that is treatable. It's time to treat it! Let's have self-sufficient children instead of children that need support as they age.

Please contact your senator and ask him/her to support Clay's Law.

It sounds real nice and compasionate to pass this bill, but reality is it will cause an increase in everyones rates wich will surely cause other familys to have to go without insurance.

Using the words "will surely cause" suggests you have a proven study or other evidence of that fact?

One of the presenters read from an analysis statement of the state of Indiana - which passed this type of legislation 6 years ago, and their bill has no expense limits (which this bill does). Indiana claimed "the financial benefit to the state is immeasurable". In other words, the benefits to families and taxpayers has been overwhelmingly positive, achieving a significant return - and they would pass it all over again, with their past 6 years successful experience. Also presented at this meeting - the fact that this additional coverage will be less than any other of a list of nearly a dozen recent additions to insurance over the last 2 decades (this is less than 1%, all others were much higher).

By making an un-substantiated, general statement - you simply show your ignorance and lose credibility. Like the poor man who said he calculated his own #s, as opposed to the actuarial studies conducted by several groups, including an insurance association, and thought his #s were right and theirs were wrong. All you get are laughs ... and questions of sanity.