California Autism Insurance Now Covers More Than ABA Therapy: What SB 805 Means for Families in 2026

For more than a decade, California's autism insurance mandate has meant one thing in practice: Applied Behavior Analysis, or nothing. If a family wanted a developmental or relationship-based approach instead of ABA, insurance would not pay for it. That is changing in 2026. Senate Bill 805 (SB 805), signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2023, requires California's Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to finalize new regulations by July 1, 2026 that open private insurance coverage to evidence-based autism treatments beyond ABA, including developmental, relationship-based models like DIRFloortime.

Here is what California families need to know about SB 805, what changes, and what does not.

What SB 805 Actually Changes

California has required state-regulated health plans to cover behavioral health treatment for autism since 2011. But that original law effectively limited coverage to providers trained in Applied Behavior Analysis, which meant other evidence-based approaches, including developmental and relationship-based models, were left out. Families who wanted to try those approaches had to pay out of pocket, even when a treating physician or psychologist recommended them.

SB 805 does not remove ABA from the picture. It expands the list of covered approaches so that insurance plans can no longer treat ABA as the only qualifying "behavioral health treatment" for autism. The bill directs DDS to write regulations defining who qualifies as a "behavior health professional" or "behavior health paraprofessional" for non-ABA approaches, along with training, supervision, and rate requirements, so plans have a clear standard for what they must cover and who can bill for it.

Therapies the Expanded Mandate Is Expected to Cover

• DIRFloortime (Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based model) — a play-based approach built around a child's emotional and developmental capacities rather than discrete-trial instruction
• PLAY Project — a parent-implemented, relationship-focused early intervention model
• Pediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) — a caregiver-mediated communication intervention

These approaches share a common thread: they focus on a child's individual differences in sensory processing, communication, and motor planning, and build a treatment plan around the parent-child relationship rather than a structured curriculum of discrete skills.

The July 1, 2026 Deadline

SB 805 set July 1, 2026 as the deadline for DDS to adopt implementing regulations through a formal rulemaking process that includes public comment. That deadline lands this week. Regulations of this kind typically take effect on a rolling basis as health plans update their provider networks, medical necessity criteria, and billing codes, so families should not expect every plan to be fully compliant on day one. Some national insurers have already begun expanding coverage to developmental approaches ahead of the state deadline, but coverage is still inconsistent from plan to plan.

What This Means for Your Family

Who Is Affected

SB 805 applies to California's state-regulated commercial health plans (both HMO plans regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care and PPO plans regulated by the California Department of Insurance). It does not apply to:

• Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program), which was intentionally excluded from this specific mandate to avoid conflicts with federal Medicaid rules. Medi-Cal already covers medically necessary behavioral health treatment for eligible children under 21, which in practice can include a range of approaches.
• Self-funded employer plans governed by ERISA, which are exempt from state insurance mandates. Many large employers self-fund their health plans, so check with your HR department or plan administrator to confirm whether your coverage is state-regulated.

What Families Should Do Now

1. Ask your insurer directly. Call the number on your insurance card and ask whether your plan currently covers DIRFloortime, PLAY Project, or other non-ABA developmental approaches, and what documentation or referral is required.
2. Get a written recommendation. If your child's developmental pediatrician, psychologist, or current provider recommends a specific non-ABA approach, get that recommendation in writing before you request prior authorization.
3. Do not assume coverage is automatic. Because DDS regulations were only finalized around the July 2026 deadline, plans are still updating their provider credentialing and billing processes. If a claim is denied, you have the right to appeal, and California's Department of Managed Health Care independent medical review (IMR) process is available for HMO plan denials.
4. Keep ABA in the conversation. SB 805 adds options, it does not take ABA off the table. For many autistic children, ABA remains an appropriate and effective evidence-based treatment. The point of the new law is choice, not replacement.

Why This Is Different From California's Other Recent Autism Insurance Change

California families may also be aware of Assembly Bill 951, effective January 1, 2026, which bans state-regulated health plans from requiring repeated autism re-diagnoses as a condition of continuing ABA coverage. AB 951 and SB 805 solve two different problems. AB 951 protects families who already have an autism diagnosis and are already using ABA from being forced to re-prove the diagnosis. SB 805 expands what kind of treatment insurance has to consider covering in the first place. Together, the two laws reflect a broader shift in California policy toward giving autism families more stability and more choice in how their children are treated.

Finding the Right Provider for Your Child

Whether your family sticks with ABA, explores a developmental approach newly covered under SB 805, or uses a combination of both, the most important step is finding a qualified, credentialed provider who is a good fit for your child. Not every clinic offers every approach, and not every insurance plan has finished updating its network to reflect the new California requirements.

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. Coverage details vary by plan, and if a claim is denied, consult your insurance company, your child's treating clinician, or a licensed attorney about your specific appeal rights.

Search ABA Navigator's directory to find ABA therapy providers near you in California, compare services and insurance accepted, and read verified reviews from other families before you make a decision.