Hopeful Therapies works with most of the health plans that Central Florida families actually carry. Below is the current list of plans we accept at our Brandon, Lakeland and Winter Haven clinics for ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. If your plan is not listed, call us anyway at (813) 655-8159 — a real person answers during business hours and we will check your benefits for you.
Insurance plans we accept
- Simply Healthcare — Medicaid and Medicare plans widely used across Hillsborough and Polk County.
- TriCare — coverage for active-duty, retired and reserve military families, including the Autism Care Demonstration for ABA.
- Humana — commercial, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage products.
- Sunshine Health — one of the largest Medicaid managed-care plans in Florida.
- Sunshine Health CMS (Children’s Medical Services Health Plan) — the specialty plan for children with serious or chronic medical conditions.
- Florida KidCare — the state children’s health insurance program for families who do not qualify for Medicaid.
- Step Up For Students — we accept Step Up scholarship funding, including the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities.
- Ambetter — marketplace plans from the Health Insurance Exchange.
- Molina Healthcare — Medicaid and marketplace plans.
We also accept private pay and can provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement.
Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Health Plan: what changes on October 1, 2026
Families enrolled in the Children’s Medical Services Health Plan are currently covered through Sunshine Health. Effective October 1, 2026, Molina Healthcare becomes the new CMS Health Plan provider. Hopeful Therapies accepts both plans, so your child’s therapy will continue without interruption and you will not need to change clinics or start a new authorization with a different provider. We will contact CMS families before the transition date and handle the paperwork on our side.
Florida KidCare and Step Up For Students
Not every family qualifies for Medicaid, and not every family has employer coverage. Florida KidCare offers low-cost health coverage for children from birth through age 18, and Step Up For Students administers scholarships that many families use toward therapy and related services for children with autism and other unique abilities. We accept both, and our intake team can explain which one fits your situation.
What your plan usually covers
- A diagnostic evaluation or an assessment by a BCBA, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist or physical therapist.
- A written treatment plan with measurable goals, submitted to your plan for authorization.
- Weekly one-to-one therapy hours, in clinic or in the community, depending on what was authorized.
- Parent and caregiver training, which is a covered and required component of most ABA authorizations.
- Periodic reassessment and progress reporting so authorizations can be renewed.
No waitlist — we can start in days, not months
Most Central Florida clinics quote families a wait of six to twelve months. Hopeful Therapies does not keep a waitlist. Once your benefits are verified and the assessment is authorized, we schedule you. Because our Brandon, Lakeland and Winter Haven clinics are open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, we usually have a slot that fits around school and work.
How to verify your benefits with us
- Call (813) 655-8159 or email contact@hopefultherapies.com with your child’s name, date of birth and insurance member ID.
- We run a benefits check and tell you in plain language what is covered, what the authorization process looks like and what — if anything — you would owe.
- If a diagnosis or a prescription/referral is needed, we tell you exactly who to ask and what wording the plan requires.
- We submit the authorization request and follow up with the plan on your behalf.
- You are scheduled. No waitlist.
Frequently asked questions about insurance and therapy coverage
Does Sunshine Health cover ABA therapy in Florida?
Yes. Sunshine Health covers medically necessary applied behavior analysis for children with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, subject to prior authorization. Hopeful Therapies accepts Sunshine Health at all three of our clinics and handles the authorization paperwork for you.
Do you accept Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Health Plan?
Yes. We accept CMS Health Plan members today under Sunshine Health, and we will continue to accept them under Molina Healthcare when Molina becomes the CMS provider on October 1, 2026. Your child’s services do not need to be interrupted.
Does TriCare cover ABA therapy for military families in Tampa and Lakeland?
Yes. TriCare covers ABA through the Autism Care Demonstration, which requires a diagnosis from an approved provider and referral through your regional contractor. We work with TriCare families from MacDill and the surrounding area and can walk you through each step.
How much will I pay out of pocket?
For most Medicaid, CMS, Simply, Sunshine and KidCare families the answer is little or nothing. For commercial, Ambetter or Humana plans it depends on your deductible, copay and coinsurance. We give you the numbers before you start, not after.
Do I need a diagnosis before you can start?
For ABA therapy, insurance requires an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis from a qualified provider. For speech, occupational and physical therapy, a physician referral or prescription is usually enough. If you do not have either yet, call us and we will point you to the right next step.
What if my insurance is not on your list?
Call us at (813) 655-8159. Plan networks change constantly, and we add plans regularly. We also accept private pay and can provide documentation for out-of-network reimbursement.
How long does authorization take?
Typically two to four weeks from the time the assessment is submitted, depending on the plan. We follow up with the payer so the request does not sit in a queue.
Talk to a real person
When you call Hopeful Therapies during business hours, a human being answers — not an automated menu. Call (813) 655-8159, email contact@hopefultherapies.com, or stop by the clinic closest to you in Brandon, Lakeland or Winter Haven. We are a family working for families, and we know what it feels like to be told to wait.
