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Washington State Needs:
HEARING AID INSURANCE LEGISLATION
About 10% of Washington's population has a hearing impairment, but only about 20% of the hearing impaired (or 2% of our whole population) has a hearing aid. Why? Many are deterred by the cost. A pair of hearing aids averages about $4,000 and can range up to $5,000 or more.
Untreated hearing loss results in family discord, educational dropouts, employment barriers, increased dependency on the welfare system and overall reduction in quality of life. Hearing loss often generates a feeling of isolation and causes mental and physical health problems. (Click here for more information about the impact of hearing loss on individual income.)
The Washington State HAIL Coalition is a grass roots movement made up of individuals and organizations either representing and/or serving people with hearing impairments. Our goal is the adoption of a state law to alleviate the enormous financial burden hearing aids places on impaired people of all ages. In most insurance plans, present coverage is either non-existent or inadequate.
Around the United States people have been fighting for improvements in hearing aid insurance coverage, with many states in 2006 making significant improvements. (Click here for a list of legislation passed around the country in 2006).
Getting involved here in Washington. We're still working on it here in Washington. If you live in Washington State and you’d like to be involved, please e-mail HAIL and say, "HAIL, I want to part of this too!".
Washington
State needs HAIL and
HAIL needs your support.
How do you contact them? One way is to write them. Paper and postage is preferred, but you can email them too. The legislators with the most power over HAIL are on the Health Care Committees.
Curious about how bills pass through the legislature? Check this out.
What can you write to them? We've got that covered too. Below are links to two documents. One is a template letter that you can adapt for your use. The other is about the people and organizations who agree on the importance of HAIL.
HAIL support letters (.doc)HAIL Endorsements* (.pdf)
Traveling down to Olympia and spending some face time is another option. For that you might need a bus schedule and/or maps.
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Intercity bus service to the Capitol Campus
(Check out http://www.intercitytransit.com/ for the latest information.)
Don't forget to read up on the subject. Here are some other documents you might want to check out as well.
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Department of Health Sunrise Report, written in 2005 concerning the need for HAIL.
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Per Washington State law, every person or organization seeking to establish a mandated benefit is required to submit a proposal to the appropriate legislative committees of the legislature, assessing the social and financial impact, as well as evidence of value. This must be submitted at least ninety days prior to a regular legislative session. For the complete law, see: Mandated Health Benefits Chapter 48.47.
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Medicaid and hearing aid coverage, some notes. (Word document)
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Medicaid and hearing aid coverage, a fee schedule. (PDF document)
Organizations
Supporting HAIL as of
May 27, 2007
If you would like your organization’s name added to this list,
please contact HAIL.
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AARP
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AG–Bell
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American Tinnitus Association
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Children’s
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Community
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Eastern Washington
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Edmonds School District
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Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues & Employment
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Hearing, Speech, &
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Holistic Health & Advocacy
King County Advisory Council on Aging and Disability
Services
Listen and Talk School
Listen for Life
Northwest Center
for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Rotary Club of Clover Park–Lakewood
Senior Lobby
Southeast
Southwest
Tacoma
Area Coalition of Individuals
with Disabilities
Trellis Medical
Washington
Association of Area Agencies on Aging
Washington
Association of the Deaf
Washington
Chapter of the
Washington
Hearing Society
Washington
Protection and Advocacy System
Hearing Loss Association of Washington
Washington State Grange
Washington State
Special Education Coalition
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