What you need to know:

The landscape of health insurance has dramatically changed over the course of 2016, with many companies, such as Unitedhealthcare, leaving the individual market in Indiana. Unfortunately, there are fewer choices for 2017, which makes it more important to begin shopping early.

A health insurance plan covering ABA services is necessary for any family who has a child with autism and wishes to access therapy. For those that may not currently have health insurance, or have group coverage that does not offer coverage for ABA therapy, now is the time to enroll.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created a new way for families to enroll in insurance – it’s called open enrollment. This is a yearly period when individuals can enroll in a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. To obtain insurance coverage for 2017, you must purchase a policy between November 1, 2016 and January 31, 2017. While you may purchase a policy anytime during this period, the earliest the plan will be effective is January 1, 2017.

The Insurance Department at Lighthouse Autism Center has been working diligently with an insurance broker to identify plans that will most benefit families with autism. To learn more or inquire about purchasing a policy, you can contact Lighthouse Insurance Manger, Michele Rohyans, at 574-387-4313 or micheler@lighthouseautismcenter.com.

When asked how Lighthouse can help families, Sandy Maggioli said, “We will help families find a policy that is right for them and even help them apply for grants to cover their out-of-pocket expenses. it is our goal to help families in any way we can, starting with the insurance process.”

Genetic Research Could Lead to Earlier Autism Diagnosis

In an article published in Behavior Genetics, researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negeg (BGU) say they’re closer to understanding the genetic basis of autism. The researchers found distinct characteristics in genes associated with autism that distinguish them from other brain-specific genes. They believe this will allow the identification of additional autism genes, leading to an earlier diagnosis of autism.

“We are now a step closer to understanding the genes associated with autism and understanding the biological process involved in the disease,” says Dr. idan Menashe, who along with his colleagues, Erez Tsur and Professor Michael Friger, is a member of the BGU Department of Public Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

One particularly distinct characteristic of autism genes the researchers found is their exceptional genomic length, which is longer than other brain-expressed genes of closely related diseases such as Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia.

“Our findings suggest that ASD genes have evolved under complex evolutionary forces, which have left a unique signature that can be used to identify new ASD candidate genes,” the researchers add.

To read the full article, please visit sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/10/161006102944.htm.