SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois families with autistic children may soon be better able to pay the costs of diagnosing and treating the developmental disorder.

The Illinois Senate approved a plan Tuesday to require insurers to provide extended autism coverage for children up to age 21, with a maximum of $36,000 per year. There is no current requirement.

"We've ignored this long enough," said state Sen. James DeLeo, a Chicago Democrat sponsoring the plan. "It costs people, working moms and dads, up to $50,000 a year. They need help."

Despite the coverage cap, the proposal does not limit the amount of visits to an autism care provider. Insurers would also be required to consider autism the same as any other physical illness, charging the same co-payments or deductibles.

The plan could hurt small businesses that might "shoulder the responsibility" to provide such expansive health insurance, said state Sen. Dan Cronin, an Elmhurst Republican who nonetheless voted to move the legislation on to the House for consideration.

The measure passed the Senate 50-0. Four lawmakers, including Sen. Matt Murphy, a Palatine Republican, voted "present" on the issue.