Families with autistic children sometimes face mountains of medical bills that they have trouble paying, but relief may be on its way. Maryland and Virginia are considering laws that would force insurance companies to cover the costs.

Similar laws have passed in eight other states, and on Thursday bills were introduced in Maryland and just two weeks ago in Virginia. If passed, the law would help families already paying out thousands to cover autism treatment and those who can't afford it at all.

Andy and Maggie Haslam are spending thousands of dollars per year on their son Drew's intensive autism treatments.

"So there's quite a bit of time and resources involved in getting him the time and attention that he needs; pretty much everything that Drew learns he needs to be taught," said Mr. Haslam.

The various medications, therapists and doctors for the 4-year-old cost the Haslam family so much, they've had to make the tough choice of cutting back Drew's treatments.

"It's 20K a year [so] it was pay the mortgage or add extra therapy for Drew," said Mrs. Haslam.

As a result, the Haslams are hoping an insurance bill passes in the Maryland legislature, mandating insurance companies cover autism diagnosis and treatment for children like Drew until age 21.

"Basically, you hire an outside consultant and you staff up your home with people who rotate through your house and do one-on-one therapy for 40 hours a week," added Marjorie Robinson,  mother of an autistic child.

Beth Eisman says she could've used the coverage years ago when her daughter was diagnosed. Today, she still spends thousands to treat 18-year-old Dana.

"My insurance companies - that was my full-time job for a while; fighting with them when I knew we deserved the coverage," said Eisman.

Advocates argue if the insurance companies bear the costs of treating autism at a young age, society will pay less for those same children as adults.

"What we've seen here at Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children is those kids are not going into the programs, into the adult programs later on, and that is a massive savings for Maryland if [the state] were to enact this type of legislation," said Ian Paregol of CSAAC.

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