Frequently asked questions.

NASA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps Nevada families of children with autism get to services. That includes family navigation and education support, help understanding insurance and school options, help understanding and applying for state funding programs, and financial assistance through the premium grant program.

NASA covers the monthly premium for a commercial health insurance plan for a child with autism, typically around $270 a month. The goal is to give the child access to more providers, shorter waits, and lower out-of-pocket costs than they would have otherwise.

It's need-based. It's open to families on Medicaid and to families who already have commercial insurance but are struggling with copays, deductibles, or limited coverage for autism services. Priority goes to children enrolled in or prescribed an intensive therapy program such as ABA.

No. Nothing gets dropped. If your child is on Medicaid, the new commercial plan becomes primary and Medicaid stays in place as secondary. If your child is already on a commercial plan through a parent, the new plan will most likely become primary for the child and your existing plan becomes secondary. Either way, the two plans work together, and the secondary plan can pick up copays and deductibles the primary leaves behind. The insurance carriers make the final call on which plan pays first, so let both plans and your providers know about the new coverage once it starts.

No. The grant pays for a policy covering only the child with autism. Parents and siblings are not on the plan, and their current coverage — whether Medicaid, an employer plan, or anything else — stays exactly as it is. If a family has more than one child with autism, each child can apply for their own grant.

No. The grant is provider-neutral. It follows the family, and you can use any provider in the plan's network. NASA doesn't require or steer families to any clinic.

Yes. The plan we help cover is your child's own health insurance — it works just like any other insurance plan. You can use it for all of your child's doctors, therapists, specialists and prescriptions, at any provider in the plan's network, not only for ABA. NASA doesn't limit what the insurance is used for.

No. Ambetter is the most common choice because of its network and pricing, but the grant can be applied to other plans.

The grant is month to month, not a yearly commitment. NASA reviews every grant on an ongoing basis, looking at things like available funding, whether the family still qualifies, and whether the child is enrolled in an active therapy program and maintaining good attendance at their sessions. Because funds are limited, NASA prioritizes children in intensive programs such as ABA, where the coverage makes the biggest difference in the care a child can receive. NASA reserves the right to stop covering premiums at any time, but will always give the family at least 21 days' written notice first. If the grant ends, the family can choose to keep the plan by paying the premium themselves or let it lapse. Any other coverage the child has, such as Medicaid or a parent's plan, is not affected.

The premium is covered by NASA. If you do not have any secondary coverage, such as Medicaid or another commercial plan, then you will be responsible for the copays on the new plan when there's no secondary coverage to absorb them.

You can apply, but grants are limited and NASA directs them where they do the most good. Priority goes to children with a prescription for intensive services, most commonly ABA, because those are the families facing the highest costs. That's true whether the family has no commercial coverage at all or already has a plan, since copays and deductibles on 10 to 30 hours of therapy a week add up fast. A child receiving only speech or OT once or twice a week usually would not be prioritized. If your child has been recommended for ABA but hasn't started, NASA's navigator can help you find a provider.

You can apply using the application form link on this website. Marketplace plans generally start the first of the following month, and outside open enrollment a family may need a qualifying event to enroll. NASA will confirm the enrollment window for each family before giving a start date.

NASA is an independent nonprofit funded by donations and grants. Its president also runs an ABA clinic, which is why the program was built to be need-based and provider-neutral. Grant decisions are based on family need, not on where the child gets services.