Key Takeaways How Many Children Have Autism in 2026? The most current figure from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network shows that approximately 1 in 31 children aged 8 in the United States have autism spectrum disorder — representing approximately 3.2% of all 8-year-olds. […]

Yes, Cigna covers ABA therapy for children diagnosed with autism — it’s included as a behavioral health benefit on most Cigna plans, in line with the autism insurance mandates now in place across all 50 states. But “covered” and “approved without friction” aren’t the same thing. After a decade of handling these authorizations, I’ve learned […]

If your child has an autism diagnosis and you’re enrolled in Sentara Community Plan (Virginia Medicaid), here’s the short version: yes, ABA therapy is a covered, medically necessary benefit — but coverage isn’t automatic. It requires a diagnosis, documentation of medical necessity, and prior authorization before sessions begin. Key Takeaways What Is Sentara Medicaid ABA […]

If you’re a CHAMPVA beneficiary and your child has an autism diagnosis, here’s the answer first: yes, CHAMPVA covers ABA therapy as a benefit for Autism Spectrum Disorder. As of December 1, 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs allowed applied behavior analysis (ABA), an evidence-based treatment for autism spectrum disorder, as a covered health benefit […]

Anthem HealthKeepers Plus ABA therapy coverage is available for eligible members, since this Virginia Medicaid managed care plan covers Applied Behavior Analysis as a medically necessary autism treatment. Coverage requires an autism diagnosis, a provider treatment plan, and prior authorization before therapy begins. If you are a Virginia parent enrolled in Medicaid and trying to […]

Aetna ABA therapy coverage is available for most members, since Aetna recognizes Applied Behavior Analysis as a medically necessary treatment for autism spectrum disorder. Coverage typically requires an autism diagnosis, a treatment plan from a qualified provider, and prior authorization before sessions begin. If you are a parent trying to make sense of insurance paperwork […]

Autism and sleep issues in toddlers go hand in hand far more often than most families expect, with research consistently showing that between 40 and 80 percent of autistic children experience significant sleep difficulties compared to roughly 25 to 40 percent of typically developing children. These aren’t just bedtime battles that every parent faces. They […]

Autism eating problems affect a significant majority of autistic individuals and represent one of the most stressful daily challenges families navigate, yet they are still widely misunderstood as fussy eating, stubbornness, or poor parenting rather than recognized as what they actually are: a neurologically driven response to sensory, cognitive, and anxiety-based barriers to eating that […]

An autism milestone checklist is one of the most practical tools available to parents who want to understand whether their child’s development is following a typical path or showing patterns that warrant a closer professional look. Developmental milestones exist not to alarm parents but to give them a framework for recognizing when early evaluation could […]

Floortime therapy for autism is a relationship-based, child-led intervention that uses play as the primary vehicle for building the emotional connection, communication, and social-cognitive development that form the foundation of everything else an autistic child learns. It is grounded in the understanding that genuine developmental progress in autism begins not with behavioral compliance but with […]

Sensory integration therapy for autism is a specialized, evidence-informed intervention delivered by occupational therapists that uses carefully controlled sensory experiences to help the autistic nervous system process and organize incoming sensory information more effectively. It is not simply playtime in a room full of equipment. It is a clinical process with a specific theoretical foundation, […]