I have two children that are level 3 nonverbal. My 5-year-old has been doing ABA therapy for 2 years now, 5 days a week and 8 hours a day. When he first started, he did not communicate at all and was eloping. Those were our two main goals starting out. Fast forward two years later, we rarely have an issue with eloping, he can communicate by stating "I want ____" and can answer yes or no to questions. He even was learning to potty train which was going amazing. At the begging of this year, he was sick and had to miss a few days. Even in that short period of time, you could see the decline. More recently, I had a lapse in insurance because I accidentally missed a renewal (never received in mail). Which this halted a hard stop to therapy for him. I had to re-apply and needless to say, he missed three months of therapy due to the process. In a very short period of time, he started regressing huge. Not wanting to communicate, refusing to try and use the potty, and his behavior declined quickly. He just went back about two weeks ago for 5 days for 8 hours a day. Unfortunately, we received a full denial for ANY therapy. so, after a full week, we then had another hard stop which is currently happening right now. The center is trying everything they can to appeal this decision.

I also have a son that will be 3 in October. We were in the process of getting him in ABA when the lapse started. Unfortunately, he only got approved for 25 hours and started today. I saw all the progress my 5-year-old made over the course of two years and that really was defeating that my 3 year old gets half of what my 5 year old received. Some therapy is better than none, I guess. But these kids require consistent therapy and 4 hours a day is nothing. Early intervention is a joke and a waste of time. He had a therapist come twice a month for 1 hour and there was absolutely 0 progress. I honestly didn't even know the point because my child would have to get to know her all over again each time. When they are in therapy consistently, they grow a bond with their tech and therapist which creates trust and a comforting environment for them to be able to thrive in daily living. Which is essential for autistic children. Autistic children do not magically grow out of this diagnosis; they learn to adapt with skills that they are taught consistently with their tech and therapist and the ongoing medical care that is absolutely necessary. 

As parents of autistic children, WE LIVE THIS EVERY DAY. For an insurance company to say my child no longer needs services or doesn't need the number of hours that has been helping them tremendously, is absolutely absurd. Not to mentioned, my 5-year-old has been approved with little to no issues for TWO YEARS. Why all of a sudden does insurance companies feel the need that these young children no longer need it? We do not have "normal" children. We have children that have to fight hard every day to do the things a "normal" child would have no issue with doing or understanding.  We have to live with this for the rest of our lives, and we do not know what the future holds. Will my child be able to be independent one day and live a normal life to the best they can be are questions I ask myself every day. But to know they have the opportunity to get help as young as they are, can make all the difference in the world to our futures.