Sample Letter to legislator

Your Return Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone Number

The Honorable [Insert Full Name Here]
Address
City, State, Zip Code

RE: Health Insurance Hearing Aid Coverage for Children

Dear Representative [or Senator] [insert last name]

As your constituent, I am writing to ask for your assistance in establishing legislation requiring a state insurance mandate to provide hearing aid insurance coverage for children. 

The establishment and passage of such a bill should require health benefit plan coverage for hearing aids for children with medically necessary hearing loss birth through age 21, every 36 months. We know that the most important development of a young child occurs in the first few years of life, and our obligation to the child does not end there. Our state priorities need to reflect that knowledge.  Currently there are twenty other states, including Oregon, that have passed legislation requiring insurance coverage for hearing aids for children. It is time that Washington does its part. States that have studied the impact on insurance premiums have found that it often only costs a few cents per month to provide this coverage for children.

As parents, educators and professionals, we understand that investing in the early years of a child’s life saves the taxpayers money in the future. Yet, when a child's hearing needs are not identified and/or when they do not receive early intervention, special education for a child with hearing loss costs our local schools on average an additional $420,000 for 12 years of education.

I urge you to support and co-sponsor the creation and passage of such important legislation. Thank you for your time and consideration of this request.  Your support of children who have hearing loss is greatly appreciated. 

Sincerely,

[Your name]

FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR HERE:  http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx