Parents Hoping to Win Autism Coverage

Amie Giersdorf works with her son.

HARTLAND, Mich. -- Justin and Amie Giersdorf's plans for a second child were all but dashed in July when their son was diagnosed with autism — a disability they learned could cost them upward of $30,000 annually to have treated.
Medical and educational experts agree their son, Andrew, 2, has mild autism, a disorder that most often hampers social skills and awareness.
Despite that expertise, no private insurers in Michigan cover autism therapies that many argue have been proved effective.