Nobody talks about the money. Let's talk about the money.
The financial burden on ABA families is real, large, and mostly invisible in public conversation. This page gives you the specific information and tools to navigate it — starting with insurance, where most families can recover the most.
The reality
$40,000 – $60,000 per year
That is what ABA therapy costs without insurance coverage — for a child receiving a typical 20–40 hours of therapy per week. Most families do not learn this number before starting. Most families also do not know how much of it they can recover through insurance if they know how to fight for it.
The insurance section below is the most important page in this guide. If your child has a commercial insurance plan in Texas, you very likely have more coverage than you think.
Insurance — where to start
Insurance is confusing by design. These five sections break down exactly what you need to know — from what Texas law requires, to what to do when you get a denial. Open each one.
Texas Senate Bill 1186 (and subsequent updates) requires most Texas health insurance plans to cover autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and treatment — including ABA therapy — without arbitrary dollar or visit limits. This applies to fully-insured plans regulated by the Texas Department of Insurance.
Covered
- ABA therapy delivered by or supervised by a licensed behavior analyst
- Psychological testing and evaluation
- Speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy related to autism
- Psychiatric treatment
Important exceptions
- Self-funded (ERISA) employer plans are regulated federally, not by Texas — they may have different rules
- Medicaid follows separate rules (see the Medicaid section below)
- Always confirm your specific plan covers "autism spectrum disorder" on your Summary of Benefits
Ask your Texas ABA Centers care coordinator
Our care coordinators have navigated hundreds of insurance situations. They can help you read your EOB, draft appeal letters, arrange peer-to-peer reviews, and connect you with benefits counselors. You do not have to do this alone — that is specifically part of what they are here for.
Contact your care coordinatorInsurance calls go much better when you walk in prepared. This is everything you need.
Waiver programs, emergency funds, and grants available to Texas families
Lost income & FMLA rights
Many parents of children in ABA therapy have to reduce their work hours — and many do not know their legal protections when doing so.
FMLA protects your job
If your employer has 50+ employees and you have worked there for 12+ months, the Family and Medical Leave Act allows up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year to care for a child with a serious health condition. Autism + ABA therapy qualifies.
Intermittent FMLA
You can use FMLA leave in small increments — hours or days — not just weeks at a time. This is critical for parents who need to attend therapy sessions or manage crisis situations without using all their PTO.
How to document medical necessity
Your BCBA or physician completes an FMLA certification form (Form WH-380-F). This form documents that your child's condition requires your care and that ABA therapy is an ongoing medical treatment.
ADA workplace accommodations
Even if you don't qualify for FMLA, the ADA may require your employer to provide reasonable accommodations — like flexible scheduling or remote work — to support a caregiver. Document your request in writing.
These deductions exist. Most families never take them because they don't know about them.
You are allowed to fight for coverage. That is what it is there for.
Insurance companies count on families not knowing their rights or not having the energy to appeal. You now have both. Your care coordinator is here to help you use them.