A new bill sponsored by Virginia Senator Bill DeSteph would require insurance companies to offer hearing aid coverage for children, according to an article published on the WAVY-TV website.
SB 423 provides coverage for hearing care services provided by a licensed audiologist, as well as hearing aids, up to $1,500, every 2 years.
Crystal Dupilka, a woman profiled in the Wavy article whose son, Clay, is hearing impaired, said she’s spent $3,000 in out-of-pocket costs for Clay’s hearing aids.
According to WAVY, DeSteph estimates the legislation would help approximately 400 children a year in Virginia.
“It’s a lot cheaper to give them hearing aids … then wait and have to spend $40,000 a year for accommodations for speech therapy and everything else while they’re in school,” DeSteph was quoted as saying in the article.
The bill passed the Senate and will be taken up by the House this week.
To read the article in its entirety, please click here.
Source: WAVY-TV
