Colorado law requires insurers to cover ABA therapy with no age or dollar caps. Most families pay nothing out of pocket through Medicaid.
Your child just received an autism diagnosis. You are probably feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, and unsure where to start. That is completely normal. The good news: Colorado has some of the strongest autism therapy coverage in the country, and most families qualify for ABA therapy at little or no cost through Medicaid or private insurance.
This page walks you through exactly what to do next, step by step. Budding Futures ABA has helped hundreds of Colorado families navigate this process. We handle the insurance, the paperwork, and the clinical planning so you can focus on your child.
Applied Behavior Analysis is the leading evidence-based treatment for autism. The U.S. Surgeon General's report on mental health confirms that 25 to 40 hours per week of ABA therapy over 1 to 3 years produces measurable gains in language development, social skills, and daily living skills. ABA works by teaching your child new skills through positive reinforcement in real environments, like your home, where they already eat, play, and interact with family. Your pediatrician or developmental specialist recommended it because decades of research support ABA as the most effective intervention available. Learn more about how Budding Futures ABA delivers therapy.
Colorado has some of the strongest autism insurance protections in the country. Colorado law (SB 09-244 and SB 15-015) requires private insurance plans to cover ABA therapy with no age caps and no dollar caps. If your child is on Medicaid (Health First Colorado), ABA is covered for children under 21 through the EPSDT benefit, which means most families pay nothing out of pocket. Budding Futures ABA verifies your insurance benefits for free, usually within 48 hours. You do not need to call your insurance company or figure out prior authorization on your own. See our full insurance and coverage guide or read about Colorado Medicaid ABA coverage specifically.
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) meets your child at your home for a comprehensive assessment. They observe your child's strengths, identify areas where support would help the most, and build a personalized treatment plan based on standardized tools like VB-MAPP and ABLLS-R. At Budding Futures ABA, Rachel Blackburn, BCBA, oversees every evaluation. The assessment takes about 2 hours, and your child does not need to "perform" or sit through anything stressful. The BCBA watches natural behavior, talks with you about your goals, and creates a plan that fits your family's life. Learn more about our initial evaluation process.
Many ABA providers in Colorado have waitlists of 3 to 6 months. That is a long time when your child is at a critical developmental stage. Budding Futures ABA starts most families within 2 to 4 weeks of completing the evaluation. Therapy sessions happen in your home, 10 to 40 hours per week depending on your child's treatment plan. A trained Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) works directly with your child while the supervising BCBA monitors progress and adjusts the plan as your child grows. There is no clinic commute, no unfamiliar waiting room, and no added disruption to your family's routine. See our no-waitlist ABA therapy page or learn more about in-home ABA sessions.
You do not have to figure this out alone. We will verify your insurance, schedule a BCBA evaluation, and get your child started with ABA therapy in your home, usually within weeks.