Insurance implications of Asperger diagnosis

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It's a restriction that is placed on my driver's license. I think it is there to protect the cops if I'm pulled over. Cops that attack "disabled" people sometimes get into trouble.

Actually it's also for your own protection. As you are probably aware, you may respond differently than most neurotypical people. If you for example remain silent that could be seen as not cooperating. Or if you are accused of something and become verbally aggressive, then that's assault. Cops don't like that and you get in trouble while you don't realize that you are doing something wrong.

Because of that print a cop knows that he should be more lenient towards you if you react 'awkward'. He has more patience and can state his questions differently. He also knows that you're not fooling him when you say you don't understand something. They get into trouble if they 'attack' you or act in a way that provokes you. And you probably don't like being attacked or provoked. The text is on your drivers license so they knew something was up, no way to deny that. That way they know and can react appropriately so you can both continue your own way without any hassle.

Never heard of that. Is that unique to Florida?

Even if you have employer provided coverage, check your summary plan description or plan document. The mental health provisions may cover anxiety, stress and other medical issues which arise from having ASD, but exclude developmental disorders. If this is the case, it may be better to keep the official diagnoses off your record and be diagnosed with the secondary medical condition for financial reasons (only having to pay the copayment or coinsurance as opposed to having to pay full cost).

if you can hold a job dont get a diagnosis. Dont even try to get an unoffical diagnosis because to the best of my knowledge, a psychologist/psychiatrist cannot take payment or attend you unless he has your information (SS# included) which is put on their computer system.

Once its there and the AS diagnosis is mentioned on it.. you're screwed.

I've worked at mortage and insurance offices.. 'autism' is on the top of the list (not just alphabetically) on the reasons to deny you loans and insurance (or to hike your rate up to the max). For them, there is zero difference between someone with a genius IQ that holds a job in astrophysics but has AS and someone that has severe mental retardation and cant hold a job at all. Its all in the 'autism' label: you are a high risk to cost the money hence either you pay a lot more than others or you are denied.

..and to an above poster: your insurance through work lasts only as long as you hold that job. Take note that all insurance policies specify they do not cover mental conditions beyond regular stress disorders. The reason why they give you insurance is because they are giving your employer a package insurance.. not YOU specifically. They do this because the law forces them to.

If anything, get yourself a high-payoff life insurance while you're under 40. At least your loved ones will be better off if an 18 wheeler runs you over (doesnt cover suicides and it will be null and void if you get a diagnosis of autism and they can prove you knew you had it but hid it from them).

For one let me say something the basis for denying insurance for autism ended with the recent health insurance reform law that passed through congress. Insurance companies can no longer discriminate based on "pre-existing conditions" from 2011 on. This was part of the health care reform act that made it through congress, discrimination on people who have autism (and other disabilities) were part of why it was pushed that through. But autism and AS is no different than a whole host of other mental health conditions insurance companies discriminated on.
I should not alot of exemptions that insurance companies used not to cover ASD were eliminated. The federal health insurance reform act trumpted alot of this BS that was happening on a state level. IT WAS discriminatory.

Basically while it was advisable under the old health care regime to avoid diagnosis under the new one with the health care reform act it is not nearly the liability it once was. Insurance companies are basically told they cannot discriminate based on pre-existing conditions.

In addition group insurance that is through most employers cover pre-existing conditions anyway.

Basically: It really depends.

There were alot of part of that legislation that benefited people on the spectrum.

In addition mortgage and loan companies are NOT privy to personal medical information. That is a violation under HIPAA. I also can go on and on about violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act as well.

I can go on and on. But my advice is to look into the health insurance reform act because alot has changed and is changing from what people are putting down here.

Here's the way I heard about the situation in Canada:

Life insurance policies that ask you "a few simple questions" really ask you if you are medically eligible (as in not medically disqualified) for enlistment in the Canadian Armed Forces. (I found that out the hard way when I was young and daft.) So, you become ineligible for most life insurance policies if you're taking medicine for any condition associated with Asperger's and until you have stopped taking your medicine for at least two years. With that in mind, I no longer bother applying for life insurance.

If you filed and didn't get approved, you need to get a different SS attorney and maybe a new therapist and try again. Autism does qualify as a disability, if its preventing you from being able to make a living. If you're young enough that you're still living with family, that may make a difference,as it would appear that if someone else is providing for you, you don't need assistance.

An autism DX is not enough to qualify for SS disability. You have to demonstrate that you are unable to work.

As I understand it, the dx itself matters less than demonstrated impairment.

But the other thing is that most people have their applications rejected twice and have to appeal twice, and most who make it to the the third attempt (which is a hearing before a judge) get it approved.

Rejected for autism or just in general? Only about 2/3rds get approved once the judge hears the case. At least that's what I was told by a lawyer.

Rejected at all.

2/3 is most. And I think you can keep appealing.

If you get your insurance through your employer, it is typically one of two types:

1. Self-insured and subject to the federal ERISA law. 60% on American corporation self-insure. These plans are exempt from ALL state insurance mandates and laws, and are exempt from almost all the PPACA (Obamacare) mandates. Your employer could provide you with a plan that has a $30,000 deductible, doesn't cover maternity, doesn't cover any mental health, has no drug benefit, etc. and it would be perfectly legal. Obamacare also allows employers to "grandfather" their plans so that they can keep these crappy health plans forever, and continue to avoids laws and mandates.

2. Fully-insured: typically smaller companies have these, and they are subject to state law. If your state has an Autism treatment mandate, you plan would have to adhere to it. These are "traditional" health plans, although only 33% of companies provide them.

I have a #1 plan through work and 2 autistic kids. We get no treatment, PT, ST, drugs, nothing. The plan does not recognize autism as a disorder. It is through Blue Cross of Illinois.

More and more companies are moving to self-funded plans, and 98% of these plans do not cover Autism--so more and more people will continue to find themselves or their children unable to get Autism treatment, drugs, etc.

In 2014, the health insurance exchanges open, but these will only be available to people whose employers do not provide a health plan. Now the employer's plan could be terrible: a "mini-med" plan with huge deductibles, limited benefits, etc., but you will not be able to drop that plan and go onto the exchanges.

People with Autism are one of the most discriminated groups in terms of health insurance. Obamacare did nothing to change that, and may have made it even worse.

For me, my diagnosis gives me /more/ coverage from my health insurance. If its deemed medically necessary things like OT must be covered for me because of my diagnosis.

It depends on the laws in the states. Some states have laws against preventing people with ASDs from getting insurance. Some states have laws about not restrictingt services for people with ASDs. Some states have laws about giving people with ASDs more services (because they're deemed necessary).

It's something to look into. For me, the risk of issues with insurance was minimal (in Massachusetts), and the benefit was great.