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Does Medicaid Cover ABA Therapy in Hawaii?

Published April 8, 2026

Yes — Hawaii Med-QUEST (Medicaid) covers ABA therapy for children and teens under 21 with an autism diagnosis. Hawaii delivers Medicaid through managed care organizations, with Honolulu having the largest concentration of ABA providers in the state. Here's how to access coverage.

Key takeaways

  • Med-QUEST covers ABA for all children under 21 with autism
  • Managed care plans include AlohaCare, HMSA (Blue Cross), Kaiser, Molina, and UnitedHealthcare
  • Hawaii's commercial insurance mandate covers children through age 18
  • Honolulu (Oahu) has the largest ABA provider network; providers on neighbor islands are more limited
  • Adults may access services through the Hawaii DD Medicaid Waiver

Hawaii Med-QUEST managed care plans

Med-QUEST is Hawaii's Medicaid managed care program. Plans covering ABA therapy include:

Hawaii's autism insurance mandate

Hawaii law (HRS § 431:10A-116.7) requires fully-insured commercial health plans to cover ABA therapy for children with autism through age 18. Coverage includes diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. Hawaii's employer-sponsored insurance market is unusual — most employers are required by state law to offer health insurance, giving families more coverage options.

How to access ABA through Med-QUEST

  1. Confirm your Med-QUEST plan at medquest.hawaii.gov or call 1-800-316-8005.
  2. Get an autism diagnosis from a licensed professional.
  3. Contact your managed care plan for in-network ABA providers, or search FindABA.
  4. Complete prior authorization — typically 7–14 days for approval.
  5. Services begin at no cost to you.

Hawaii resources

Find Hawaii ABA providers that accept Medicaid

FindABA lists ABA providers in Hawaii showing accepted plans including Med-QUEST, AlohaCare, HMSA, and UnitedHealthcare.

Search Hawaii providers →