Each year in Washington
state approximately 200-250 babies are born with hearing loss. For those born
with permanent hearing loss in our state, approximately 90-95% of them could
benefit form the use of hearing aids.
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| Image: Siemens Hearing Instruments |
Unfortunately for many Washington families, the vast majority of
private insurance plans specifically exclude hearing
aids from being covered. Working families in Washington are left scrambling to pay
for these devices for their children (which on average cost $2000/ear or more)
and many are forced to decide whether they have to utilize state Medicaid
benefits in order to afford them due to the high cost and need for replacement
every 3 to 5 years.
Children with hearing loss who do not receive early intervention
cost schools (taxpayers) an additional $420,000 on average in special education
costs alone. Yet, requiring private insurance plans to provide some degree of
hearing aid coverage often costs less than a dollar per
year.
We need your help to ensure Washington becomes the 21st state to require
health benefit plans to provide some form of hearing aid coverage for children.
Here's a few ways you can help:
2) Write your state legislator(s). A simple letter or brief email can make a huge impact upon our decision-makers in
Your support of
