Does Medicaid Cover ABA Therapy in Washington State?
Published April 8, 2026
Yes — Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) covers ABA therapy for children and teens under 21 with an autism diagnosis. Washington State also has a strong commercial insurance mandate. Here's everything you need to know to access ABA therapy in Washington.
Key takeaways
- Washington Apple Health covers ABA for all children under 21 with autism
- Managed care plans include Coordinated Care, Molina, Community Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare
- WA's commercial insurance mandate (SB 5459) covers all ages
- Seattle metro and Spokane have the largest ABA provider networks in WA
- Adults may access services through DDA (Developmental Disabilities Administration)
Washington Apple Health managed care plans
Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) delivers services through managed care organizations by region. Major plans covering ABA include:
- Coordinated Care of Washington — western WA including King County
- Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW) — statewide
- Molina Healthcare of Washington — statewide
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of WA — statewide
- Amerigroup Washington — statewide coverage
Washington's SB 5459 — commercial insurance mandate (all ages)
Washington Senate Bill 5459 requires fully-insured commercial health plans to cover ABA therapy with no age limit. This is one of the strongest mandates in the US, covering adults as well as children on private insurance plans.
How to access ABA through Washington Apple Health
- Confirm your Apple Health plan at hca.wa.gov or call 1-800-562-3022.
- Get an autism diagnosis from a licensed professional.
- Contact your managed care plan for in-network ABA providers or use FindABA.
- Complete intake and prior authorization — typically approved within 7–14 days.
- Services begin at no cost to you.
Washington resources
- WA Health Care Authority: hca.wa.gov
- DDA (adult services): dshs.wa.gov/dda
- Autism Society of Washington: autismsocietyofwa.org
- Apple Health helpline: 1-800-562-3022
Find Washington State ABA providers that accept Medicaid
FindABA lists ABA providers across Washington State showing accepted plans including Apple Health, Coordinated Care, and Molina.
Search Washington providers →