August 5, 2024

Understanding ABA Therapy Costs

As per the research by Behavioural Intervention for Autism, Applied Behavior Analysis has an 89% success ratio in treating autism spectrum disorder in children, which signifies the importance of ABA therapy. However, the cost of ABA therapy is an open question that needs a detailed description.

So, if you want to know how much ABA therapy costs, read this article, which comprises the cost range, contributing factors, and financial assistance options for ABA therapy.

Cost Ranges for ABA Therapy

While opting for ABA therapy, you have options like signing up for a year, month, or week. This defines the cost of ABA therapy as you have multiple payment options. You can pay annually, monthly, weekly, daily, or hourly.

The average rate of board-certified ABA therapists is $120 and $150 per hour in the United States. So, let’s understand the weekly, monthly, and annual charges of ABA therapy by this simple math calculation.

In case you are seeking therapy for 10 hours weekly, and the hourly cost is $120:

The weekly charges will be 120 × 10 = $1,200
The monthly charges will be: 1,200 × 4.33 = $5,196
The annual charges will be: 5,196 × 52 = $62,400

However, these costs are exclusive of insurance coverage. One needs to analyze the time period in which therapy is required as sometimes significant progress is observed even in months, so an annual subscription makes no sense in this case.

Cost Ranges for ABA TherapyWhat Factors Influence the Cost of ABA Therapy?

How much does ABA therapy cost varies depending on multiple factors such as:

1. Severity of Condition

Paying for ABA therapy for a child who has severe symptoms of autism requires hours of effort to achieve any progress. This will significantly lead to increased therapy hours, which means that the cost of the therapy will increase.

2. Geographic Location

The cost of Applied Behavioral Analysis ABA also fluctuates from region to region. For example, if you are residing in California, the cost of ABA therapy is covered by health insurance companies. Furthermore, the state of California also has multiple grants to aid you in ABA therapy for autism that reduces the financial burden on your pockets.

3. Experience of the Therapist

The therapists who are accredited with Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) charge more because of their years of experience. So, if you are opting for top-quality therapy, you have to be prepared for hefty bills as well.

4. Settings of Therapy

The settings where the ABA therapy sessions are conducted can also be a reason for an increase and decrease in the cost of therapy. For example, if you are availing the therapy at a clinic, you may have to pay less than a home therapist.

5. Required Therapy Hours

How much does ABA therapy cost directly depends on the individual needs of a child. If assessment and therapy sessions require 20 hours weekly, the price will eventually increase. However, with time, the hours are reduced, so the prices fluctuate throughout the time period.

How to Approach and Fund ABA Therapies?

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children with autism require $17,00 to $21,000 for booking appointments, additional care, and therapies compared to neurotypical kids. This amount of money is unaffordable for most families residing in the United States, but funding is available to support such therapies.

These funding options are:

ABA Therapy through Private Payment
ABA Therapy is covered by Insurance Firms
School-funded ABA therapy
Scholarships and ABA financial assistance
State-funded ABA therapy funding

1. ABA Therapy Through Private Payment

Sometimes, employers fund ABA therapy for their employees and their children. However, the company decides whether the funding covers the full cost or partial, but it is mandated that the employers share the details at the time of hiring.

Usually, the companies determine the coverage depending on the overall income of the household. It is important to note that even if the company is not providing full support, it still offers a huge reduction in the therapy charges, reducing them up to 80%.

2. ABA Therapy Covered By Insurance Firms

Insurance-covered ABA therapy is one of the most used methods people opt for, specifically in the states where ABA therapy coverage is mandated by the state for insurance firms. Again, this coverage can be fully funded or partially funded. The deductible amount is discussed before signing up for the insurance plans, and it is deducted from every session.

For example, if the deductible charges on your contract are $20, you only have to pay this amount for each session. However, if your child needs more frequent sessions, the cost may increase, but it would still be way more affordable than the actual therapy cost.

3. School-funded ABA Therapy

School-funded ABA therapy is the kind of funding that children receive from their schools or the school district. In such cases, the child has to go through the assessment round, after which most children receive 100% funding for therapy.

In these situations, the therapists are either hired by the agency staff or the district itself, and the supervision is done by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). The school’s Individual Educational Plan is responsible for sharing the development and progress reports with the parents in this scenario.

4. Scholarships and ABA Financial Assistance

Parents also seek help for the therapy of their children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with funding from financial centers. However, the financial coverage varies from center to center, and eligibility criteria as well, but still, the funding relieves you from breaking the bank.

5. State-funded ABA Therapy Funding

People consider state-funded Applied Behavioral Analysis, ABA therapy, as a last option because it has an extensive process, and the shift of terms from one state to another also frustrates the parents. However, some of the best states in terms of ABA therapy support are:

California: Provides grants irrespective of the age limit and has no maximum therapy cost limit.

Colorado: The insurers are mandated to cover the full ABA therapy cost with no age limit.

Indiana: Provides grants irrespective of the age limit and no maximum therapy cost limit.

New Jersey: Offers grants for off-set treatment of people up to the age of 21 years.

New York: With no age restriction, it offers grants of up to $45,000 to every autistic individual to seek treatment and therapy.