Does Your Health Plan Cover Hearing Aids?
California Health Insurance

What would you do if you had a hearing impaired or deaf child? Do you know what your California health insurance would cover? Would it cover the cost of hearing tests, cochlear implants, or hearing aids? If you are considering changing your California health insurance coverage you may want to check on this important benefit. Not everyone will need this coverage, but if you do, paying an increase premium could keep you from financial difficulties.

It is interesting to note that recently a bill was passed in the assembly that wants California health insurance companies to pay for hearing aids for deaf and hearing-impaired children. This could save parents a huge amount of money without significantly increasing premiums for an individual policy. A state senator was told that one of his constituents could not afford to buy hearing aids for her two children. He found they were not covered by her California health insurance policy and introduced the bill. This new law would apply to both HMO and PPO plans in California.

Hearing aids for young children can be expensive and the bill would cover up to $1000 for children who need them. The cost of two hearing aids, one for each ear can cost up to $5000. Some California health insurance providers will cover cochlear implants. These are small electronic devices that are placed under a patient’s skin and give them a sense of sound.

The bill was designed to help defray the cost of hearing aids for children who do not qualify for a cochlear implant. Requiring California health insurance providers to help with the cost of hearing aids will help with educating the child. Before the bill was passed a study was done to discover the impact on California health insurance companies. The study decided the cost would be small and it would not significantly increase premiums.

The bill is now on the desk of Governor Arnold Swarzenegger who has 30 days to either approve or veto this important bill. This bill will help every family who has a deaf or hearing-impaired child. Paying for a portion of the hearing aid costs will also aid in increasing testing scores, which are required for federal aid. If you have a child who is deaf or hearing-impaired, you need to ask your California health insurance provider the coverage they provide. If they do not provide coverage for hearing aids, soon, if the bill passes, they will be required to carry that added coverage.