Relates to the mandatory coverage of hearing aids by insurers and other organizations

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic23
• Republican4

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Roxanne J. Persaud says this is needed

This legislation requires insurance coverage for hearing aids by commer- cial insurers for children and young people under the age of twenty-sev- en. Whereas, after the age of twenty-six young people are off of their parent's health insurance. A 2017 survey by the Hearing Health Founda- tion, a group that funds research and advocates for treatments and cures for hearing loss, found that 40 percent of respondents had no hearing aid coverage through health insurance. Currently, 13 states, including Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Caro- lina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas require that health benefit plans pay for hearing aids for children. Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire and Rhode Island also require health plans to pay for hearing aids, regardless of age. 19 states in total mandate the coverage of hearing aids in some form. Studies provided by the Center for Hearing and Communication show that hearing loss occurs in 5 out of every 1,000 newborns. Children ages 18 and under are subject to the greatest physical growth of their whole life. Constant growth through puberty can leave families with outstand- ing balances from purchasing hearing aids when they suffer from hearing loss. Not only can the potential outstanding balances affect the chil- dren in our community, but also can affect their education and future success. The Center for Hearing and Communication has also shown that mild hearing loss can cause a child to miss as much as 50% of classroom discussion. Additionally, providing prescription hearing aids to children stands to save the state money in the long run. According to the 2017 Annual Report on the Children's Hearing Aid Program, published by the. Utah Department of Health, "the provision of hearing aids in eligible young children reduces the need for long term services. Research has shown that the earlier a child can be fit with appropriate amplification, the greater the potential for typical speech and language development, social skills, academic achievement, and future vocational skills. Early amplification and appropriate Early Intervention services save signif- icant costs associated with special education services and the potential need for long term services, thereby reducing the financial burden on the public." This legislation will not only have enormous cost savings for New York State, but it will also ensure that families do not have to bear the large cost of hearing aids.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.