Mom who won a fight for autism insurance is keynote speaker at Savannah Autism Conference 2011
Meet the mother of three who forced South Carolina insurance companies to cover autism.
I had the honor of interviewing attorney Lorri Unumb for a Savannah Morning News column (read it here). You , too, can meet Lorri at this Saturday’s Savannah Autism Conference 2011. She’s the keynote speaker.
All those whose lives have been touched by autism are invited to attend.
Lorri Unumb (pictured here with her 10-year-old son who has severe autism) forced insurance companies in South Carolina to cover autism and is helping other states, including Georgia, pass similar laws. Lorri is the author of the ground-breaking autism insurance legislation in South Carolina known as “Ryan’s Law,” which requires insurance companies to cover treatments for autism.
Ryan’s Law, named after Lorri’s son, states that insurance companies must provide up to $50,000 annually on behavioral therapy, up to the age of 16. The law provides coverage for various treatments, including those previously denied as “experimental.” It doesn’t, however, apply to people or companies who are self-insured, such as the Unumbs.
To date, 27 states have enacted similar statutes. Lorri is hopeful a similar bill in the works for Georgia will pass next legislative session. Read more here.
Savannah Autism Conference 2011 at Memorial University Medical Campus, 4700 Waters Ave., Hoskins Center for Biomedical Research
8:15 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sept. 17
For more info, call 912-748-6463 or go to www.facebook.com/themindspringcenter and click on the autism seminar tab.