All 50 states and Washington D.C. have enacted autism insurance mandates requiring coverage for ABA therapy, but the rules vary considerably by state. Coverage limits, age restrictions, and practitioner qualification requirements differ from state to state — and mandates generally apply to fully insured plans only. Use this guide to find the requirements for your state.
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If you’re trying to figure out whether your insurance has to cover ABA therapy — or you’re a practitioner confirming reimbursement requirements — you’ve come to the right place.
Over the past two decades, families, applied behavior analysts, and advocacy organizations pushed autism insurance reform through state legislatures across the country. The result is a set of laws that all point in the same direction — coverage for ABA therapy is required — but differ significantly in the details.
We put together this guide to cut through the complexity. It uses plain language to summarize the key points most relevant to families and ABA practitioners, and includes direct links to each state’s legislation.
Last Updated: February 2026
Important: What These Mandates Cover
State autism insurance mandates generally apply to fully insured, state-regulated health plans. Self-funded employer plans governed by ERISA are typically exempt from state insurance mandates, regardless of what state you’re in. If you’re covered through a large employer’s self-funded plan, your coverage may not be subject to these requirements. Check your plan documents or contact your HR department to confirm your plan type. This guide is for informational purposes only — coverage details vary by plan and may change due to legislative updates or federal parity requirements. Always verify current requirements with your insurer or state insurance commissioner.
Find Info for Your State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
State Insurance Law Summaries
Each entry below reflects the law as cited. Dollar amounts, age limits, and practitioner requirements may have been modified by subsequent legislation or federal parity requirements. Verify current coverage details with your insurer or your state’s insurance commissioner before making decisions based on this information.
Alabama — 2017 House Bill 284
- Applies to all insurance plans delivered to employers with at least 51 employees for at least 50 percent of working days
- Coverage is limited to $40,000 per year between ages 0-9, $30,000 per year between ages 10-13, and $20,000 per year between ages 14-18 (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Practitioner must meet state licensure and/or certification requirements, which include board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) certification
Alaska — 2012 SB 74
- Applies to all insurers in the state, except fraternal benefit societies or insurers providing coverage to small employers with 20 or fewer employees
- Coverage limit is subject to copayment, deductible, and coinsurance provisions included in the individual health insurance policy
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 21 years of age or younger
- Practitioner must be state-licensed and/or nationally certified as a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA)
Arizona — 2008 Arizona Session Laws, Chapter 4
- Applies only to certain health insurers in the state
- Coverage limit is $50,000 a year for individuals age nine and under; $25,000 for individuals 9-16 (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 17 years of age and younger
- Practitioner must be state-licensed and/or nationally certified as a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA)
Arkansas — 2011 Arkansas Acts, Act 196
- Applies to all health benefit plans in the state
- Coverage limit is $50,000 annually (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 18 years of age and younger
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) or supervised by a BCBA and licensed by either Arkansas’s Division of Developmental Disabilities Services or the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling
California — 2011 SB 946, amended 2014
- Applies to all disability insurance plans and health care service plans that provide hospital, medical, or surgical coverage
- Coverage limit may not exceed ABA coverage provided under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (verify current benchmark plan language)
- No visitation limits
- No age limits
- Practitioner must be licensed or certified by a national entity, such as the Behavior Analyst Certification Board
Colorado — 2009 Colorado Session Laws, Chapter 391
- Applies to all health benefit plans in the state
- No coverage limit
- No visitation limits
- No age restrictions
- Practitioner must be a licensed physician, psychologist or psychiatrist; hold a doctoral degree in behavioral health science with one year of behavioral therapy experience; hold BCBA certification; or hold BCaBA certification and practice under the supervision of a BCBA
Connecticut — 2014 HC-96 and HC-99
- Applies to specified group health insurance policies
- No coverage limits
- Visitation and non-dollar limits established by individual policies
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA), a licensed psychologist, a licensed physician, or supervised by a BCBA
Delaware — 2012 Delaware Laws, Senate Bill 22
- Applies to all health insurance plans in the state
- Coverage is limited to $36,000 annually (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals age 21 and younger
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst or working under the supervision of a BCBA
District of Columbia — 2013 B20-0302
- Applies to specified group health insurance policies and individual plans
- Coverage limit is the same as for other treatments and therapies
- No visitation limits
- No age limits
- Practitioner must be nationally certified as a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA)
Florida — 2008 SB 2654; 2016 Bill 0221
- Applies to all health insurance plans and health maintenance contracts, including coverage for autism spectrum disorders and Down Syndrome
- Must be diagnosed by age 8 to be eligible
- Coverage is limited to $36,000 annually; a $200,000 lifetime cap was included in the original legislation — verify current applicability under federal parity rules
- No visitation limits
- Extended to individuals older than 18 if they’re still enrolled in school
- Practitioner must be nationally certified as a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA)
Georgia — 2015 Georgia House Bill 429
- Applies to state-regulated private insurance companies’ group policies
- Coverage is limited to $35,000 annually (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals ages 0 to 21
- Practitioner must be nationally certified as a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) or working under the supervision of a BCBA
Hawaii — 2015 Hawaii Laws, Senate Bill 791
- Applies to all state-regulated health insurance plans
- Coverage is limited to $25,000 annually (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 14 years of age and younger
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and licensed through Hawaii’s Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Professional and Vocational Licensing Division
Idaho — 2018 Bulletin No. 18-02
- Applies to all individual and group accident and health insurance or managed care plans in the state
- No caps on ABA coverage
Illinois — 2008 Public Law 095-1005
- Applies to all individual and group accident and health insurance or managed care plans in the state
- Maximum annual benefit of $36,000 per original legislation (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals under 21 years of age
- Practitioner must meet current state licensure requirements — verify current Illinois practitioner qualification standards with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Indiana — 2024 Indiana Code 27-8-14.2-3
- Applies to all group accident and sickness insurance policies in the state
- No coverage limits
- No visitation limits
- No age restrictions
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA)
Iowa — 2017 HF 215
- Applies to all state employee health care plans in the state
- Coverage is limited to $36,000 per year for ages 0-7, $25,000 for ages 7-14, and $12,500 for ages 14-19 (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals under the age of 19
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) or a board-certified assistant behavior analyst (BCaBA) under the supervision of a BCBA
Kansas — 2014 Kansas House Bill No. 2744
- Applies to all health insurance plans that cover medical, surgical, or hospital expense coverage in the state
- Coverage is limited to 1,300 hours for children under 4 and 520 hours for children ages 4-12 per original statute (verify current hour limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals under 12 years of age
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA)
Kentucky — 2010 HB 159
- Applies to all state employee health benefit plans and large group health benefit plans in the state
- No coverage limits
- No visitation limits
- No age restrictions
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst licensed by the Kentucky Applied Behavior Analysis Licensing Board, or a supervisee working under the supervision of a licensed BCBA or BCaBA
Louisiana — 2012 Act 208
- Applies to all health insurance policies and health maintenance organizations, except employers with 10 or fewer employees
- Coverage is limited to $36,000 per year (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 21 years of age and under
- Practitioner must be licensed or certified by the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board
Maine — 2014 LD 2768
- Applies to all individual health insurance policies, group health insurance policies, and individual and group health maintenance organization contracts
- Coverage is limited to $36,000 per year (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 10 years of age or younger
- Practitioner must be a licensed clinical psychologist, or certified through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board or the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts
Maryland — 2013 Maryland Insurance Article 15-835
- Applies to all insurers, health benefit plans, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations in the state
- No coverage limits
- No visitation limits
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA)
Massachusetts — 2011 H4935
- Applies to specified individual, group, and state employee health plans in the state
- No coverage limits
- No visitation limits
- No age restrictions
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst or supervised by a board-certified behavior analyst
Michigan — 2012 SB 414, SB 415, and SB 981
- Applies to all individual health policies and health maintenance organization plans in the state
- Original legislation included tiered annual caps of $50,000 for children ages 0-6, $40,000 for children ages 7-12, and $30,000 for children ages 13-18. Verify whether these limits remain in effect under current federal parity requirements
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 18 years of age and younger
- Practitioner must be a psychologist licensed to practice in the state of Michigan
Minnesota — 2013 Minnesota Law, HF 1233, Article 12
- Applies to all state employee health plans, fully insured large group plans, Medicaid, and Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association high-risk plans
- No coverage limits
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 18 years of age and younger
- Practitioner must be licensed or certified
Mississippi — 2015 Mississippi Laws, HB 885
- Applies to all health insurance plans in the state
- No coverage limits
- Visitation limited to 25 hours per week
- Applies to individuals ages 2-8, except if deemed medically necessary by a doctor after the age of eight
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst or supervised by a board-certified behavior analyst
Missouri — 2019 SB 514
- Applies to all group health benefit plans in the state; individual policies may include coverage as an optional benefit for an additional premium
- Coverage is limited to $40,000 per year, subject to annual adjustment, except with approval by the health benefit plan (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals under the age of 19
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA)
Montana — 2009 Montana Laws, Chapter 359, SB 234
- Applies to specified disability and insurance policies
- Coverage limited to $50,000 per year for children 8 years old and younger, $20,000 for children ages 9-18 per original legislation (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 18 years old and younger
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst or certified by the Department of Public Health and Human Services as a family support specialist with an autism endorsement
Nebraska — 2014 Nebraska Laws, LB 254; 2016 Medicaid Mandate
- Applies to state employee health plans, fully insured large group plans, individual plans, Medicaid plans, and fully insured small group plans purchased prior to March 23, 2010
- No coverage limits
- Visitation is limited to 25 hours a week
- Applies to individuals 20 years old and younger
- Practitioner must be a licensed psychologist or a behavior analyst certified by a national board ,such as the Behavior Analyst Certification Board
Nevada — 2017 Nevada AB 6
- Applies to individual health benefit plans, health insurance for small employers, group and blanket health insurance benefit plans, and health maintenance organization plans in the state
- Coverage is limited to $72,000 annually per original statute (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals under the age of 18, or until age 22 if enrolled in high school
- Practitioner must be a licensed psychologist, licensed behavior analyst, licensed assistant behavior analyst, or certified autism behavior interventionist
New Hampshire — 2010 House Bill 569, Chapter 363
- Applies to specified insurers in the state
- Coverage is limited to $36,000 per year for children up to 12 years and $27,000 for children ages 12-21 (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 21 years old and younger
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst or supervised by a BCBA
New Jersey — 2009 P.L.2006, C. 115
- Applies to specified insurers in the state
- No coverage limits
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 21 years old and younger
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) or supervised by a BCBA
New Mexico — 2019 HB 322
- Applies to specified insurance policies, health care plans, and certificates of health insurance in the state
- No coverage limits
- No visitation limits
- No age limits
- The practitioner must be licensed or certified
New York — 2011 S 4005-A, A 6305A
- Applies to every insurance policy that provides physician services, medical, major medical, or similar comprehensive coverage
- No coverage limits
- No visitation limits
- No age limits
- Practitioner must be licensed through the New York State Education Department (NYSED)
North Carolina — 2015 North Carolina Laws, SB 676
- Applies to all large group health insurance plans in the state
- Coverage is limited to $40,000 annually (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 18 years of age and younger
- Practitioner must be licensed as a psychologist by the North Carolina Psychology Board or practicing under the supervision of a licensed psychologist
North Dakota — Bulletin 2018-1
- Applies to all individual and group health insurance plans
- No coverage limits
- No visitation limits
- No age limits
- Practitioner must be licensed by the North Dakota State Board of Psychologist Examiners (NDSBPE)
Ohio — 2017 HB 463
- Applies to health plans for state employees, as well as some individual plans
- No coverage limits
- Visitation is limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week
- Applies to individuals ages 0-21
- Practitioner must meet the Certified Ohio Behavioral Therapist (COBT) designation requirements, which can be satisfied by board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) qualifications — verify current Ohio certification standards
Oklahoma — 2016 House Bill 2962, 2021-03 Bulletin
- Applies to all individual and group health insurance policies that provide medical/surgical benefits, as well as state employee health plans
- No coverage limits
- No visitation limits
- No age limits
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst and licensed by the Oklahoma Licensed Behavior Analyst Board (OLBAB)
Oregon — 2013 Oregon Laws, SB 365
- Applies to specified health benefit plans, state employee health plan, fully insured large group plans, and fully insured small group plans
- No coverage limits
- No visitation limits
- Treatment must begin prior to age 9; no age limits after that
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst or other licensed health care professional, and licensed by Oregon’s Behavior Analysis Regulatory Board
Pennsylvania — 2008 Act 62 (HB 1150)
- Applies to all health insurance policies and government programs
- Coverage is limited to $36,000 annually (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 21 years of age and younger
- Practitioner must be licensed or certified through the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine
Rhode Island — 2011 Rhode Island Public Laws, Chapter 175
- Applies to specified health insurance contracts and policies
- Coverage is limited to $32,000 annually (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals under 15 years of age
- Practitioner must be licensed or certified by Rhode Island’s Applied Behavior Analyst Licensing Board
South Carolina — 2007 Act No. 65 (R85, S20)
- Applies to all health insurance plans in the state
- Coverage limited to $50,000 annually (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals who were diagnosed with ASD at age 8 or younger and are 16 or younger
- Verify current South Carolina practitioner qualification and licensing requirements with the state’s insurance commissioner
South Dakota — 2015 South Dakota Laws, SB 190
- Applies to all health insurance plans in the state
- Coverage limited to $36,000 for children ages 0-6, $25,000 for ages 7-13, and $12,500 for ages 14-18 (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals age 18 and younger
- Practitioner must be licensed by the South Dakota Social Work Licensing Board
Tennessee — 2006 Tennessee Public Acts, Chapter 894
- Applies to all health insurance policies that provide benefits for neurological disorders
- Coverage is limited to deductible requirements for other neurological disorders (verify current requirements)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 12 years of age and younger
- The practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst and licensed by the Applied Behavior Analyst Licensing Committee
Texas — 2013 SB 1484
- Applies to all health benefit plans in the state
- Coverage is limited to annual deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance required for other treatment under the health benefit plan
- No visitation limits
- Individuals must be diagnosed with autism before the age of 10
- No dollar limit for individuals under the age of 10; coverage is limited to $36,000 for individuals ages 10 and older (verify current limits)
- Practitioner must meet current Texas Insurance Code licensure and certification requirements — verify current practitioner standards with the Texas Department of Insurance
Utah — 2019 SB 97
- Applies to all individual and fully insured large group plans in the state
- No coverage limits
- No age limits
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst or other licensed health professional whose scope of practice includes mental health services, licensed by the state’s Department of Occupations and Licensing
Vermont — 2012 Vermont Acts, Act 158
- Applies to all health insurance plans in the state
- Coverage is not to exceed benefits offered under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — verify current benchmark plan language
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals 21 years of age and younger
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst or licensed by Vermont’s Office of Professional Regulation
Virginia — 2019 HB 2577, 2020 SB 1031
- Applies to health insurers, health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations
- Coverage is limited to $35,000 annually unless a higher amount is specified by the insurer (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals from ages 2-10 — verify whether this age range has been updated
- The practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst and licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine
Washington — 2014 Senate Bill 5059
- Applies to all insurers operating in the state
- No coverage limits
- No visitation limits
- No age restrictions
- Practitioner must meet current Washington state licensure and certification requirements — verify current standards with the Washington State Department of Health
West Virginia — 2012 HB 4260
- Applies to specified health insurers, including the West Virginia Children’s Health Insurance Program
- Coverage is limited to $30,000 per year for the first three years of treatment and $2,000 per month after three years (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- Applies to individuals diagnosed with ASD at age 8 or younger, from 18 months to 18 years
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst or certified by a similar national organization
Wisconsin — Wisconsin Statutes 632.895 and 609.87, 2009 Act 28
- Applies to specified disability policies and self-insured health plans in the state
- Coverage limited to $50,000 per year for intensive services for a minimum of 4 years between ages 2-9; after the four-year intensive-level service period, coverage is limited to $25,000 per year for non-intensive services (verify current limits)
- No visitation limits
- No age limits for non-intensive level services
- The practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst and licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Wyoming — 2019 Bulletin
- Applies to Medicaid programs in the state — note that Wyoming does not have a commercial insurance mandate comparable to most other states; this coverage applies to Medicaid enrollees only
- No coverage limits
- Visitation is limited to 20 visits annually, unless otherwise specified by a medical professional
- Applies to individuals aged 20 and younger
- Practitioner must be a board-certified behavior analyst, a board-certified assistant behavior analyst (BCaBA), or a registered behavior technician (RBT) under the supervision of a BCBA
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do all state insurance mandates cover ABA therapy?
All 50 states and D.C. have enacted autism insurance mandates, but they primarily apply to fully insured, state-regulated health plans. Self-funded employer plans governed by ERISA are generally exempt from state mandates, meaning many people covered by large employers may not be subject to these requirements. If you’re unsure which type of plan you have, check your Summary Plan Description or contact your HR department.
What are the most common age restrictions in state autism insurance laws?
Most states that have age limits cap coverage somewhere between ages 18 and 21. Some states restrict coverage to much younger children — Maine covers children 10 and younger, Rhode Island covers individuals under 15, and Virginia limits coverage to ages 2-10 per current statute. States like California, Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, and New York have no age restrictions at all. Age limits are among the provisions most likely to have changed since the original enactment, so it’s worth verifying your state’s current rules.
Does the treating practitioner need to be a BCBA for insurance to cover services?
In most states, yes — or at a minimum, the practitioner must work under the supervision of a BCBA. Some states also accept licensed psychologists or other licensed health care professionals. Practitioner qualification requirements are listed in each state’s entry above and directly affect whether a claim will be covered. You can learn more about BCBA certification requirements on our BCBA certification page.
Are there dollar limits on how much insurance has to pay for ABA therapy?
It depends on the state. Some states — including California, Colorado, Maryland, and Massachusetts — have no annual dollar limits. Others cap annual benefits at $25,000 to $72,000 in the original legislation. A few states, like Texas, tie coverage limits to the same deductible and coinsurance terms as other treatments. Many original dollar caps may have been modified by subsequent legislation or federal mental health parity requirements, so always confirm current limits with your insurer.
Does this guide cover Medicaid coverage for ABA therapy?
Some state mandates do extend to Medicaid — Nebraska and Wyoming, for instance, have Medicaid-specific provisions. But Medicaid coverage is often governed by separate rules and varies considerably. If your family relies on Medicaid, contact your state’s Medicaid office or a local ABA provider for the most current information. Our guide on where to find free or low-cost ABA services may also be helpful.
Key Takeaways
- Mandates are widespread but not universal in scope — All 50 states and D.C. have enacted autism insurance mandates, but they apply primarily to fully insured plans. Self-funded employer ERISA plans are typically exempt.
- The details vary significantly — Age limits, annual dollar caps, and practitioner qualifications all differ by state. Don’t assume coverage without checking your specific state’s law.
- BCBA certification is the most common practitioner requirement — Most state laws require the treating practitioner to be a BCBA or to work under BCBA supervision for reimbursement to apply.
- Broadest access tends to be in states with no limits — States like California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York have no annual dollar caps and no age restrictions.
- Dollar amounts and age limits may have changed — Many original caps and restrictions have been modified since initial enactment. Verify current requirements with your insurer or state insurance commissioner before relying on figures in this guide.
- If a claim is denied, know your law — The legislative links in each entry connect directly to the source statute, giving you a concrete basis to appeal a denial.
Thinking about a career in ABA? The insurance landscape has created strong, stable demand for board-certified behavior analysts nationwide. Explore ABA programs to see what’s available in your area.
