LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — According to Nevada families, major insurance changes are limiting autism therapy coverage and leading to expensive out-of-pocket fees, but advocates say a lack of formal complaints is making it harder to fight back.
The Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities began sounding the alarms back in January as concerns flooded their office. As months went on, stories of families losing coverage began to surface. The problem, according to the council: zero complaints have been filed with the insurance bureau, despite reports of cuts and higher costs.
They say that the lack of reporting is limiting their ability to push for change.
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Families report coverage cuts, higher costs
On Thursday, FOX5 brought the story of Elina Sverdlova and her eight-year-old son, who has autism. She says he was in therapy nearly every day and making real progress. But she says this year, everything changed.
She says the turning point came when her insurer, the Health Plan of Nevada, limited coverage to ABA therapy, a critical, evidence-based treatment, along with other essential services. The changes forced her family to pay out of pocket for care.
Clinicians share her concerns. Some say they have recently had to file an appeal on behalf of their patients to have care covered.
Council says data needed to push for change
The Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities says that without the data to support these occurrences, their hands are tied.
“Well, obviously, none of the claims can be fully investigated by the jurisdictional agency,” Anna Binder, the Las Vegas chair for the Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. “And then a lot of the data and things that we collect are now just the family stories, which we have very diligently brought forward and continue to tell. But when the agency responsible for oversight tells us nobody’s coming to them, we can only do what we can. Is continue to monitor, continue to listen, continue to collect the stories and the data.”
Without formal complaints, the insurance bureau cannot investigate each case. The council says complaints create a paper trail so that when they present to lawmakers or talk with insurers, they have the data.
How to file a complaint
Families who may be experiencing coverage changes should contact the Division of Insurance. The Las Vegas office can be reached at 702-486-4009, and the Carson City office at 775-687-0700.
The council website walks families through the steps. More information is available at www.nevadaddcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ABA-Townhall-March-2026.pdf.
Nevada Healthlink, which includes the Health Plan of Nevada and seven other plans, can be reached at 800-547-2927.
The Health Plan of Nevada did not answer questions about the changes and instead directed members to call the number on their insurance card.
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