Tuscaloosa family advocates to City Council for more autism health insurance benefits

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By WVUA 23 News Reporter Gracie Johnson

Allan Hinson, a Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue employee, and his wife Elizabeth Hinson found out around 6 months ago that their twin daughters, Mattie and Milly, were diagnosed with Autism.

Luckily, their girls received an early diagnosis and were able to be guided to many helpful resources around Tuscaloosa, including the University of Alabama’s Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinic.

Upon the start of the girls’ therapies, the family quickly realized that their insurance policy through the City of Tuscaloosa does not cover ABA, speech, or even occupational therapies.

The family shared that these therapies needed for their girls were looking to cost them around $234,000 without the additional insurance coverage needed.

“Families who work for the city and don’t have the coverage they were unable to go as frequently as they needed to for their children or they weren’t able to get services at all because they didn’t have insurance to cover it,” said Elizabeth, Milly and Mattie’s Mom.

“So, with the number of children that are diagnosed with ASD annually, I think this will help impact a lot of families.”

Elizabeth took it upon herself, with the help of friends, to begin advocating to the Tuscaloosa City Council to possibly add additional benefits to the existing autism coverage under the City’s health insurance plan.

This past week, the City of Tuscaloosa decided to move forward and consider adding the additional coverage into next year’s benefits package.

“Hopefully if the council votes it in, it will become effective on October 1, 2022. So, we are really excited about that,” said Elizabeth.

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