Myth: Since the ABA agencies have stopped accepting Medicaid plans, ABA has become a luxury for the wealthy. Or a way for us, um, unwealthy folk (*Go, majority, go!*) to go broke, fast.
Fact: Some ABA agencies do accept Medicaid plans (What?!). Also, for kiddos with disabilities, you may be able to utilize their Medicaid to cover ABA.
First off, what’s up with Medicaid not covering my child’s ABA?
To clarify: it’s not that Medicaid won’t cover ABA. (They are actually legally required to cover ABA.) It’s that over the last while, they’ve cut back quite a bit on the amount they pay their network providers, so it’s become more difficult for the agencies to work with them. We’ve seen more and more agencies switch over to non-Medicaid insurances only in the last couple of years.
So, who is still taking Medicaid, l’maaseh?
Good question! Some New York agencies* we know of who accept straight Medicaid and/or Medicaid MCOs are:
Accomplish
(718) 925-2066 x105
Applied ABC
(718) 360-9548
Ascend
(845) 251-0070 x1
Aspiring Heights
(862) 234-5386
Friendly Face
(833) 233-4273
Hamaspik Rockland
(845) 356-8400 x292
MindGo
(718) 218-5361
Supportive ABA
(855) 316-2700
Yeled v’Yalda
(718) 686-3700
*This information has been updated as of January 2026. Please bear in mind that agencies often change the plans they are in network with, so this information may not reflect more recent changes.
I’m very happy with my child’s current provider and don’t want to switch, but they’re no longer accepting my child’s Medicaid plan…
I totally get you… It’s tough. Here’s what you can do:
Call your ABA agency and find out which qualified health plans (often referred to as “commercial” or “private” plans) they are willing to accept, and confirm with them that they would work with Medicaid as your child’s secondary coverage.
Confirm with all of your children’s providers (doctors, dentists, specialists, etc.) that they will accept this insurance as primary and Straight Medicaid as secondary coverage to cover copayments and deductibles. (Take both insurance cards to your provider.)
Bear in mind that private plans have out-of-pocket expenses, such as monthly premiums, that you’re going to be responsible to pay for. You might want to get guidance from an insurance advocate who can help you choose a plan that works for you.
Your insurance advocate may be able to arrange something called “third party reimbursement“, which is where your child’s Medicaid (if it has disability coding) reimburses the monthly premiums of your child’s private plan, decreasing your out-of-pocket expenses while allowing the agency to bill your child’s private insurance.
Mrs. Berger applied to several summer camps for Rachelli, her adorable, rambunctious little girl with special needs, but unfortunately, none of the camps she applied to accepted her. Ezreinu called Mrs. Berger to check in at the start of the summer, and she told them what happened — unfortunately, no one had taken Rachelli, so she was home for the summer. Ezreinu told Mrs. Berger about a camp that had an open slot available at the last minute, and Rachelli was able to go to a fantastic camp, after all!
The Wieners were trying to plan ahead for Debbie, their 18-year-old daughter with ASD. They called Ezreinu and were given clear, helpful information about guardianship options — including guardianship attorneys and information about reimbursement for legal fees — in addition to guidance regarding SSI benefits. The Wieners hung up the phone feeling better equipped to handle Debbie’s transition to adulthood.
Identifying details have been changed to protect client confidentiality.