Early Intervention and ABA in Indiana
Indiana Part C early intervention is the fastest first step for a child under 3. Here's how to use it.
Why Part C first
If your child is under 3 and you suspect a delay, Indiana's Part C early intervention program is the fastest door. You do not need an autism diagnosis to ask for an evaluation. Part C is federally required in every state, so it exists regardless of your insurance or income.
Part C and insurance-funded ABA are separate systems. You can use them in sequence or at the same time. Many families start with Part C while they pursue an autism diagnosis and then add ABA through insurance.
How to request an evaluation
Call or write to your local Part C contact and say you want an evaluation for your child. You can find the contact through the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration or by calling 211. Put the request in writing if you can, and keep a copy.
The evaluation is free and does not require a doctor's referral. You do not need a diagnosis. The evaluation looks at five areas: cognitive, physical, communication, social or emotional, and adaptive skills.
After the evaluation, a team meets with you to decide if your child qualifies. If they do, you get an Individualized Family Service Plan, or IFSP.
What an IFSP includes
The IFSP is a written plan that lists your child's goals and the services they will get. It also names who provides each service, how often, and where. You are part of the team that writes it, and you must approve it before services start.
The plan is reviewed every six months and updated at least once a year. You can ask for a review at any time if your child's needs change.
Where services happen
Services happen in your home or in community settings like a daycare or park. The idea is to fit into your daily life, not to make you drive to a clinic. A provider comes to you.
Typical services include speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and developmental therapy. Some programs also offer family training so you can support your child between visits.
What Part C costs
Part C is free for evaluation and service coordination. Ongoing services are either free or on a sliding scale based on your income. Indiana uses a sliding scale, so you pay what you can afford. No one is turned away for inability to pay.
Your insurance is not billed for Part C. This is separate from your health plan. You can use Part C and insurance-funded ABA at the same time, but the services are coordinated by different systems.
Transition at age 3
At age 3, Part C ends and your child may move to school-district services through the public schools. This is a different system with different rules. The Part C team must help you plan this transition, usually starting six months before the third birthday.
The school district will do its own evaluation to decide if your child qualifies for special education. If they do, you get an Individualized Education Program, or IEP. The IEP is a school plan, not a medical plan, and it focuses on educational goals.
If your child still needs ABA at age 3, you will likely get that through insurance or Medicaid, not the school. The school district does not provide ABA as a medical service. Keep both tracks running.
ABA through insurance in Indiana
Indiana has an autism insurance mandate, but it only applies to state-regulated plans, which are fully insured plans. If your employer's plan is self-funded, it is governed by ERISA and is not bound by the state mandate. Many self-funded plans cover ABA anyway, but you have to check.
Limits on ABA coverage vary by plan. Some plans cap visits or hours per year, some cap dollar amounts, and some have no cap. Do not rely on a number you read online. Ask your insurer this exact question: "What are the specific limits on ABA coverage for my child's plan?"
If your child is on Medicaid, coverage for medically necessary ABA is available through EPSDT for children under 21. Your Medicaid plan's name is on your member card. Contact them directly to ask about ABA coverage and any prior authorization steps.
Indiana listings right now
319 ABA agencies across 45 Indiana counties.