A small group of dedicated parents and deaf/hard of hearing adults met last year to create a bill that would provide hearing aid coverage to deaf and hard of hearing individuals of all ages. No other state has successfully passed a bill that would mandate insurance coverage for hearing aids for all ages. Most of the states with coverage either pass a tax deduction or limit the coverage to children only.
Senate Bill 68 was introduced in the Illinois legislature by Senator Ira Silverstein. The original bill provided coverage for all ages up to $2,500. The bill currently has two amendments attached to it that changes the original bill and turns it into a bill providing coverage for children.
See this video that Dennis O’Brien produced that explains more:
I personally do not support the amendments that are attached to this bill. Here’s why: I believe that every deaf and hard of hearing individual should have access to hearing aid insurance coverage regardless of age. The proposed coverage, $2,500 is very reasonable.
One of my friends recently underwent bilateral cochlear implant surgery. The total bill came to $225,000. Her insurance company paid every penny of it. She is happily enjoying the new sounds that she’s learning each day.
My family has ten hearing aids and we have no insurance coverage at all. Should we choose to pursue cochlear implants, the bill would easily reach over a million dollars.
How many hearing aids would that cover, for the rest of our lives? The cost does not come anywhere close.
Isn’t it time to provide insurance coverage for hearing aids?
Take just five minutes to call your local Senator and Ira Silverstein ((217) 782-5500) and tell them that you support the original Senate Bill 68 and would like to have it passed without the amendments.
Yes, indeed, the time is NOW to make this happen!
Comments
13 responses to “Hearing Aid Insurance Coverage–Not Just for Children”
I’ve had my hearing aids less than a week. They were $4450. Without help from friends and family, I never would have been able to get them.
We have Grace’s Law here in NJ. Children under the age of 16 (I think) all their hearing aids are covered.
I’d love some help financially for my aids…my insurance doesn’t cover them and DVR wasn’t much help either.
So, I pay…what else can I do?
I totally agree, health insurance NEEDS to cover aids…as it does with glasses. I need my aid just like I need my glasses!!
One day…perhaps.
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Karen, sister Jeanie here. Why is the You-Tube only in sign language? I don’t know sign language. Why is it not captioned? Another thing you should bring up is the fact that DHS gives you hearing aids, but if they unsuccessfully find you a job, in which they expect reimbursement from the gov’t, you are on your own.
In my case, that means, they unsuccesfully failed at the attempt for job placement, once they discovered I needed two hearing aids. I spent more than ten years off and on trying to be retrained, doing the college bit, and attending special courses. To no avail. I am now without TWO hearing aids, and fortunately, I saved one that really didn’t help the other ear. The thing is, I know you are talking about people WITH insurance, but what about those of us, who went through many tests, especially through the Chicago Hearing Society, that MISDIAGNOSED our hearing, allowing the cheapest deal, that meant it was all for nothing.
What about those like me, that finally got fitted, and yet, was unsuccessful in following the rules, the required courses, only to be mislead? Then the hearing aid(s) are now over 7 years old, and you saved one “just in case you don’t find a job, and the other breaks down”.
Only to find yourself many years later, trying to do the right thing, praying the other one doesn’t “break down”. They want two hundred to fix the one, but no guarantee they can fix it. Medicaid apparently won’t pay for that. So, should I buy some fancy earplugs and forward, march to Springfield, and ask the Governor Quinn to plug his ears while I have an “EARFUL” to tell him.
As many assume as in this video, that all people know sign language, you are just as guilty (the person in the video) for not providing caption, for those of us who lost our hearing late in life. I would appreciate it if you would mention this to the “deaf” community. Some of us lost our hearing along the way. Sign language is too late for me and others. Ask him to telecaption this You-Tube message/
Oh, I called Senator Durbin…as usual, even though I instructed the operator to leave a message in case it was a recording machine, she didn’t leave my message. I called again, and was hung up on. So much for that.
Guess I’ll need a stamp and envelope to deliver my message. I get so mad when Obama says he wants to hear from everyone. Getting a message to him or our legislatures on what issues we would like to see “changed” is like sitting on a corner with a cup asking for “change”.
I meant that I was SUCCESSFUL in completing required courses, volunteering, and they promised me a job after issuing the needed hearing aids, only to trail off, and leave me hanging. I was successful in everything required, and now I’m stuck. Everyday I worry the last hearing aid will give out and I’ll be left out in the cold. There has to be a way for us to “hear” and not have people tell us it is for “cosmetic reasons”. That was the most ridiculous excuse I ever heard.
The money they spend on patronage, well, let me tell you…they can well afford to buy 20 hearing aids for your kids. The politicians are the idiots. At our expense. The only defense we have is to fight back, firing letters. emails, phone calls, anything…everyday, as if your life depended on it. Afterall, their livlihoods depend on us….and they think we’re stupid.
I agree that every deaf and hard of hearing individual should have access to hearing aid insurance coverage regardless of age. Very important topic!
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Karen,
You have some really valid points in this well-written post. I support what you are saying and believe that all people should have the right to afford devices that would help them to hear if that is what they would like. Let me know how else I can help–
amy
When I was in college, I majored in Deaf Education. I had many Deaf friends, and heard this a lot. How frustrating it was that insurance didn’t pay for hearing aids or the batteries that are needed constantly. It is really disappointing that this is a fight that has to take place. It should be standard, but so much of our health care is not standard. I hope that the great work you all are doing works!
It’s sad when my insurance company will cover my daughter’s acne medicine…but not my 3 year olds hearing aids! I dread every day that one of them will break – or worse – get lost. ILLINOIS needs to change -so that hearing is not considered a privilege but a right for all! Thank you Senator Silverstein and Senator Collins for all your hard work and support.
How frustrating! There has to be a better way, and I hope that all the hard work you are doing in bringing this out in the open for everyone to hear will make a difference.
i am a HOH mom of 4. i have no insurance for my aids.i am lucky the state help with my kids aids. but mine are out of pocket and i am now needing new ones.as i age my hearing gets worst it hard ot keep with with my aids.3000. every 3 years is just hard t keep up with.i was lucky we get a nice tax return to cover my cost but than means i have ot wait to get them at that tiem of year. what happens if my break down mid summer?i can’t hear much with out my aids and depend on them.i know sign but my hubby don’t at least not yet. but still not every one know sign .with out my aids i feel left out of the world.i think insurance needs to cover aids!!!
My husband was in need of hearing aids, and was denied coverage by our health insurance company too. When it came time for renewal we dropped our health insurance provider.
It’s unfortunate but hearing aids for adults is not covered by most health insurance. We ended up paying out of pocket for my husband’s hearing aid.
I was just now googling around about this when I stumbled on your post. I’m simply stopping by to say that I definitely liked reading this post, it’s very well written. Are you planning toblog more on this? It looks like there’s more depth here for later posts.
Since my son got his cochlear implants the world is wide open to him. And our insurance covered all the costs.