Paying for ABA Therapy in Georgia: Insurance, Medicaid and Katie Beckett
Most Georgia families pay for ABA therapy through health insurance, Georgia Medicaid or the Katie Beckett program. Apollo Behavior accepts Anthem, Cigna, Optum, Kaiser, Aetna and Georgia Medicaid, including children covered through Katie Beckett. Our Columbus and Warner Robins centers also accept Tricare. Our intake team checks your benefits before your child starts.
Georgia Medicaid
Georgia Medicaid has covered autism services, including ABA therapy, for children and young adults under age 21 since January 1, 2018. A child needs an autism diagnosis, and the ABA provider requests approval (prior authorization) from Medicaid before therapy starts. Apollo’s team handles that request.
Source: Georgia Department of Community Health, Autism Spectrum Disorder services.
Katie Beckett (TEFRA)
Katie Beckett lets a child with a serious disability get Georgia Medicaid without counting the family’s income. It covers children 18 or younger who live at home. A child qualifies based on the level of care they need, not on the diagnosis alone. Once approved, the child can use Medicaid for ABA therapy, and approvals last at least two years.
To apply, call the Centralized Katie Beckett Medicaid Team at 678-248-7449, visit your county DFCS office, or apply online at gateway.ga.gov. Families who are already enrolled can use the Katie Beckett member portal that opened in April 2026.
Source: Georgia Department of Community Health, TEFRA/Katie Beckett.
Our guides:
- The Katie Beckett Waiver and Autism: How to Apply
- Katie Beckett Waiver Georgia Autism Eligibility FAQ
New to all of this? Download our 2-page first steps guide (PDF): what to do the first week after a diagnosis, how to pay for ABA in Georgia, and what to ask a provider.
Tricare
Tricare East covers ABA therapy for military families through the Autism Care Demonstration. Our Columbus and Warner Robins centers accept Tricare.
Private insurance
Georgia law requires many health plans to cover ABA therapy for autism, but each plan sets its own rules for approvals and hours. These guides explain what to expect with each insurer.
- BCBS of Georgia (Anthem)
- Cigna
- Aetna
- UnitedHealthcare
- Kaiser Permanente
- Will insurance changes affect my child’s ABA hours?
Other help with costs
Grants and other programs can help with costs insurance doesn’t cover. See Financial Assistance for Autism.
Questions
Call our intake line directly at 770-200-4001 or start enrollment. We’ll check your coverage and tell you what to expect.
