How Much Does ABA Therapy Cost in Centennial?
The real number is rarely the sticker price. For most Centennial families it comes down to one thing: how you cover it.
Health First Colorado covers eligible kids under 21 at no cost to the family.
What you pay for ABA therapy in Centennial depends on how you cover it. Most Centennial families on Health First Colorado (Medicaid) pay nothing. On commercial insurance, families usually pay somewhere between $0 and about $1,000 out of pocket, set by their deductible and coinsurance. Private pay, with no insurance, runs roughly $2,000 to $8,000 and tracks how many hours your child needs. We share these as ballpark ranges, since the real number comes from your own plan. At Budding Futures ABA, our team checks your exact benefits before therapy starts, so you walk in already knowing what you would owe.
| How you cover it | Typical family cost | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Health First Colorado (Medicaid) | Usually $0 | Covers eligible kids under 21 through EPSDT |
| Commercial insurance | $0–$1,000 | Deductible, copay, coinsurance, out-of-pocket max |
| Private pay (no insurance) | ~$2,000–$8,000 | Recommended weekly hours and service mix |
For the statewide picture and the Colorado coverage rules behind these numbers, see our full ABA therapy cost in Colorado guide. Everything below is the Centennial-specific version.
On this page
Cost with Health First Colorado (Medicaid)
If your child has Health First Colorado, your cost is usually zero. The state covers medically necessary ABA for kids under 21 through the EPSDT benefit, so a copay or deductible rarely enters the picture for covered care. Your child needs an autism diagnosis and a referral, and we get prior authorization before therapy starts. We are enrolled as a Colorado Medicaid ABA provider (Provider Types 83 and 84), so we handle that paperwork and coordinate with your Centennial-area Health First Colorado plan. See our Medicaid ABA therapy in Colorado page for eligibility and timing.
Cost with commercial insurance
With a commercial plan, you only owe your share of the bill, which usually sits well below the full billed rate. Colorado law requires plans to cover medically necessary ABA for autism, so what you actually pay comes down to your deductible and the coinsurance your plan carries. A lot of Centennial families on a full schedule hit their out-of-pocket maximum within the first few months, and after that their covered visits cost nothing for the rest of the plan year. We verify your benefits before anything starts and we don't balance-bill, so a surprise invoice for the difference never lands in your mailbox. Most families begin with our insurance verification step.
Cost without insurance (private pay)
Paying privately, plan for somewhere around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on how many hours your child's plan calls for. A toddler on a focused early-intervention schedule usually lands near the bottom of that range. Kids who need more weekly hours cost more, which is why we don't sell a flat package. The right number of hours is a clinical call from your BCBA, so the price follows the plan. If you're paying out of pocket, we hand you a written estimate based on those recommended hours before anything begins.
What changes your total
Two kids in the same Denver zip code can land at very different totals. Here is what moves the number:
- Weekly hours. A focused plan might be 10 hours a week; a comprehensive one can be 20 or more.
- Who delivers the time. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) bills higher than a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), and your plan mixes both.
- The assessment. We build the plan from a VB-MAPP or ABLLS-R assessment, which sets the starting hours.
- Your deductible status. Starting in January resets it; starting mid-year may mean you have already met part of it.
- How long care runs. Total cost is weekly hours multiplied by the weeks of the plan, then reviewed as your child progresses.
Centennial market rates, for context
If you want the raw hourly figures behind the bills, here is what the Centennial market generally looks like. These are market rates, not a Budding Futures quote, and with Medicaid or insurance you do not pay them directly.
| Centennial market context | Approximate rate |
|---|---|
| BCBA-led time (billed hourly) | $120–$150 / hour |
| RBT-delivered sessions (billed hourly) | $70–$100 / hour |
| Colorado Medicaid ABA rate | ~$57–$108 / hour ($14.25–$26.95 per 15 min) |
| Full comprehensive schedule | Often 20+ hours / week |
How fast can you start in Centennial?
Cost is only half the question; most parents also want to know how soon care begins. Budding Futures keeps Centennial families off a long waitlist while that is current, so your timing usually depends on three things: getting your benefits verified, having the autism diagnosis and referral in hand, and clearing prior authorization. Send those over early and you move faster. More detail lives on our no-waitlist ABA therapy page.
Get your exact Denver cost
A range is useful, but your number is the one that matters. Tell us your insurance and your child's age, and we will verify your benefits, confirm whether we are in network, review your deductible and coinsurance, and give you the expected family responsibility before therapy starts. Rachel Blackburn, BCBA and our clinical team build the plan, while our intake team maps the money side, so nothing about cost catches you off guard. If you're worried about affording care, Health First Colorado and the CES Waiver are the two main financial assistance routes for Colorado families, and we can walk you through both. We serve Centennial and nearby Littleton and Aurora across Arapahoe County with in-home ABA, so therapy fits your real day at home.
Denver ABA cost questions, answered
Is ABA therapy expensive in Centennial?
It can be if you pay fully out of pocket, since a full schedule is several hours a week with ongoing BCBA oversight. Most Centennial families don't pay that, though. Health First Colorado covers eligible kids under 21 at no cost, and commercial plans are required to cover medically necessary ABA in Colorado, so the real number is usually your deductible and coinsurance.
Does Medicaid cover the full cost of ABA in Centennial?
Yes, for eligible kids. Health First Colorado covers medically necessary ABA for children under 21 through the EPSDT benefit, so most families pay $0. Your child needs an autism diagnosis and a referral, and the provider gets prior authorization first. We're enrolled as a Colorado Medicaid provider and handle that paperwork.
What is the hourly cost of ABA therapy in Centennial?
Across the Centennial market, billed rates tend to run about $120 to $150 an hour for BCBA-led time and $70 to $100 an hour for RBT-delivered sessions. Those are market figures, not a Budding Futures quote. With Medicaid or insurance you don't pay the hourly rate; you pay your plan's share, which is often little or nothing.
Can Budding Futures give me an exact cost before we start?
Yes. We verify your benefits up front, confirm whether we're in network, review your deductible and coinsurance, and tell you the expected family responsibility before therapy begins. We don't balance-bill, and if you're paying privately we give a written estimate based on your child's recommended hours.
Do you serve all of Centennial?
Yes. Our BCBAs and RBTs travel to homes across Centennial and Arapahoe County, including Littleton and Aurora. Because care is in-home, you skip the clinic commute and we come to you, so the cost covers therapy in your child’s own routine.
Sources
Colorado Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing
Health First Colorado ABA benefit, EPSDT coverage for kids under 21, and prior authorization.
Denver provider & cost overview
Centennial-area ABA cost ranges and provider landscape (2026).
CDC
Autism diagnosis and treatment background, including behavioral intervention.
Get your Denver ABA cost in writing
Tell us your insurance and your child's age. We will verify your benefits and explain exactly what you would pay, before anything starts.