The Costs of Autism are Up to $2.4 Million Per Family

The medical costs of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be quite heavy. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine found that families with a child suffering from the health issue could pay anywhere from $1.4 million to $2.4 million for behavioral therapy and medication. A recent study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, examines the diagnosis of this behavioral disorder and the financial toll it can take on involved parties.

"When we think about what is needed to support people with autism, we so often look to medical care for that support," said study senior author David Mandell, director of the Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, in a news release. "I think this [study] shows there are other places we need to look as well."

For the study, researchers considered numerous factors that contribute to the costs of caring for one child with an ASD, including medical costs, lost wages, residential care and special education. They calculated that care costs for an autistic patient without intellectual disabilities would be about $1.4 million, while those for a patient with intellectual disabilities would be about $2.4 million. Estimates for those in the United Kingdom were about $2.2 million.

In the United Kingdom, an estimated 700,000 individuals suffer from autism or 1 in 100 people. In the United States, however, the rate is much more common at 1 in every 68 children. In fact, it's estimated that between 1 to 1.5 million Americans suffer from this disorder, according to The Autism Society. 

After breaking down the healthcare costs of the health issue into multiple sections, researchers calculated that the care of treatment for children ranged from $6,467 and $18,106 per year depending on the patient's age and intellectual ability. For adults with autism, the costs were much higher, ranging from $13,580 to $27,159. Special education costs and lost wages were also anywhere from $13,980 to $62,920 and $18,720 per year, respectively.

"This study shows us what we've all known but never had the data to support -- that autism is alarmingly expensive," said Michael Rosanoff, associate director of public health for Autism Speaks, the nonprofit advocacy group that funded the research, according to WebMD.