Insurance Coverage for Stuttering 

Obtaining insurance coverage for stuttering treatment can be a challenge for many reasons. First, insurance reimbursement for speech and language services, in general, may not be included in your benefits plan. Furthermore, many plans have specific exclusions for stuttering that result from a lack of knowledge about stuttering. In fact, many NSA members report that their claims are denied or that their policy does not cover stuttering.

The NSA Insurance Advocacy Committee has developed a comprehensive Insurance Advocacy and Stuttering brochure to guide you through the process of obtaining insurance coverage.
 

Advocating for appropriate insurance coverage for people who stutter can be done on many levels. We encourage you to take steps to help advocate for insurance coverage by doing the following:​

• Appeal denied claims for stuttering treatment on all levels. Claims may be appealed with the insurance company.

• Contact your employer to determine if speech therapy is part of the covered services in your plan. If it is not, encourage your employer to include it in the plan by educating them on speech and language disruptions.

• Contact your state insurance commission or legislators if you feel that services should be covered and you have failed on your appeal attempts.

• Take steps to educate the public about stuttering. Public awareness can help advocacy efforts.

 

Remember that insurance plans may vary significantly on the amount of coverage they provide for speech therapy services. You should determine your exact speech therapy benefit before beginning treatment services so that you know your coverage.