Illinois bill requires insurance coverage for therapeutic horseback riding
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — A bill that would require insurance plans to cover therapeutic horseback riding in Illinois is headed to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk.
Advocates for hippotherapy say riding a horse for an hour is the equivalent of power walking, and can be beneficial for those who struggle to move.
Specialists in the field also report that horses have a calming effect on patients with anxiety.
In the past, insurance companies have fought against covering the services.
Senate Bill 69 passed out of the Senate unanimously in April and passed the House just before the end of the legislative session.
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