It may have taken some time, but you’ve gotten an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis for the child you care for, and you’re now ready to take the next important step: start ABA therapy. But you’re not sure exactly how payment works. You want to know: “How much does ABA therapy cost?” and “Is ABA therapy covered by insurance?”

Navigating insurance coverage for any type of therapy or medical service can be stressful and confusing. The good news is that ABA therapy is typically covered by insurance. However, understanding the ins and outs of coverage can be complicated. This guide will break down everything you need to know about ABA therapy costs and ABA therapy insurance coverage. 

How Much Does ABA Therapy Cost?

ABA therapy (Applied Behavior Analysis therapy) is the gold standard treatment for kids with autism and is highly effective at teaching essential communication, behavior, socialization, and daily-life skills. Understanding how ABA therapy works can be complicated, but understanding ABA therapy costs can be even trickier.

That’s partly because cost can vary based on many different factors, including where you are located and how many hours of therapy a child requires. But the answer to the question “How much does ABA therapy cost?” also varies based on whether you’re paying out-of-pocket or with health insurance, as well as the type of insurance.

Without health insurance, ABA therapy costs can be extremely steep. Here’s a rough guide to what you should know:

• Hourly ABA therapy costs:  $120-$150 an hour
• Comprehensive ABA therapy costs (20-25 hours per week): $10,000-$15,000 a month
• Focused ABA therapy costs (10-15 hours per week): $5,000-$9,000 a month

For most families, ABA therapy would be financially out of reach without insurance coverage. Fortunately, ABA therapy and ABA services (both in-home and center-based) are typically covered by insurance. It’s difficult to state with certainty because coverage varies by plan, but in some cases, insurance may cover the full cost of ABA therapy. In other cases, you may still owe some out-of-pocket costs. But even in the cases where you need to pay some costs yourself, your expenses will be much lower than if you paid full price without insurance.

Is ABA Therapy Covered by Insurance?

If you’ve been googling, “Is ABA therapy covered by insurance?”  you aren’t alone. This is one of the top stressors for caregivers starting the ABA therapy journey. Thankfully, ABA therapy is covered by insurance in most cases.

Insurance Coverage Landscape

All 50 states have mandates requiring health insurance companies to cover autism treatments, which include ABA therapy. However, each state’s mandates are different in terms of:

• Which age groups are covered
• How many therapy visits are covered by insurance
• Whether there are yearly spending caps for insurance coverage
• Additional state-specific limitations on coverage

Coverage also depends on what type of insurance plan you have. Most commercial insurance plans will cover ABA therapy. Medicaid also covers ABA therapy in most states. Still, each health insurance plan is a little different in terms of how and when coverage is available. And there may be other limitations, so be sure to check your coverage. 

What Insurance Typically Covers

While most health insurance plans cover ABA therapy, they also typically cover other services for children with ASD. These services may include occupational therapy, speech therapy, or physical therapy. Prescription medications that may be associated with autism are also usually covered by health insurance. 

Insurance Requirements

In order for ABA therapy to be covered, insurance companies usually require:

• Formal diagnosis

A child needs to have a formal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) done by a physician or licensed psychologist (not just an autism evaluation)

• Prior authorization

When a provider must seek insurance authorization for services before they begin treatment

• Documentation

Medical documentation of a child’s need for ABA therapy services is often required.

ABA therapists do a lot for the children in their care, but in order for a health insurance company to cover ABA therapy, the ABA behavior technician, supervisor, or ABA facility typically has to be “in network” for the child’s insurance coverage. 

Understanding Your ABA Therapy Financial Responsibility

Although most health insurance companies cover ABA therapy, there may still be out-of-pocket expenses you are responsible for. These expenses can come from:

• Co-payments

Fixed amounts (usually between $15-$30) you pay for a specific service

• Deductibles

Fixed yearly amounts that your health insurance requires you to cover before it will pay for services

• Co-insurance

A percentage of a service (such as 20%), you are required to pay after you’ve met your yearly deductible

Besides health insurance coverage for services, you can sometimes get help paying for them in other ways. For instance, sometimes your state or a child’s school district will help cover a portion or all of a child’s ABA therapy services. 

Get Started with ACES

How ACES Makes Insurance Easy: Client Onboarding

Wading through insurance information and ensuring a child’s ABA services are properly covered can be both challenging and headache-inducing. That’s where ACES’ Client Onboarding comes in. You don’t need to understand the nitty-gritty details of your insurance coverage. ACES manages that for you.

ACES is in-network with over 100 insurance carriers, which means fewer surprises, faster authorizations, and clearer expectations about your costs. All you have to do is give ACES your insurance information, and the rest is handled for you.

ACES’s Client Onboarding team handles:

• Insurance eligibility
• Set-up of services
• Verification of benefits
• Submission of pre-authorization
• Clear explanation of your financial responsibility
• Ongoing billing 

Understanding ABA Therapy Billing Codes

Billing codes are shorthand that ABA therapy providers send to insurance companies to document what services they provide. These codes describe the type of services that were provided. They also provide information about how long the services have been provided. Typically, this information is billed in 15-minute increments (like a lawyer, for instance).

For example, some of the common billing codes used in ABA therapy include:

• 97153: Direct therapy (RBT)
• 97155: BCBA supervision
• 97156: Parent training

It’s not at all essential for caregivers to understand billing codes, but it is essential that providers send the correct codes to insurance companies. It’s unlikely, but if there’s a mix-up, claims may be denied or will need to be resubmitted. 

Comparing Costs: ABA Therapy vs Alternatives

ABA is a highly researched, evidence-based treatment for children with autism. It’s recommended by major medical organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, and the U.S. Surgeon General. But it’s not the only therapy available for children with autism.

Other therapy options may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and other types of behavioral and mental health therapies. These therapies are also often combined with ABA therapy.

In terms of coverage, ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and mental health therapy are typically covered under health insurance plans. As with ABA therapy coverage, you typically need prior authorization and documentation from a physician to show that these services are medically necessary for a child.

Alternative autism treatments—such as yoga, massage, dietary supplements, and acupuncture—are not covered by insurance. 

Where to Go From Here

Now that you have answers to questions like “How much does ABA therapy cost?” and “Is ABA therapy covered by insurance?” it’s time to move forward with ABA therapy—and, luckily, you’ve come to the right place.

ACES is a trusted ABA therapy provider that has been in the business for over 30 years. ACES has over 3,000 highly trained clinicians, including Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), and nearly 500 supervisors ready to serve your family. When it comes to ABA therapy insurance coverage, the ACES team is ready to guide you through the process and do the legwork so therapy services are covered. Then you can focus on what matters most—the growth and well-being of the child you care for.

Get started with ACES today! 

References

Autism and Insurance Coverage State Laws. National Conference of State Legislatures. 2021.

Autism Services. Medicaid.gov.

Billing Codes. ABA Coding Coalition. 2026.

Complementary and Integrative Therapies for Autism. American Academy of Pediatrics. 2026.