The Illinois House has approved a bill requiring insurance coverage for hearing aids | Community

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois House has approved a account Thursday night required all insurance companies to provide coverage for medically necessary hearing aids.

Current state law only covers insurance coverage for assistive hearing aids for people under the age of 18. However, Rep. Sharon Chung (D-Bloomington) said more than 380,000 people in Illinois are deaf or have severe hearing loss.

Chung and co-authors explained that more than 20 other states have passed identical legislation.

“We’re trying to reach people’s hearing,” Chung said. “We don’t ask to cover nose jobs or medically unnecessary things. I think most people here would like their friends, colleagues and neighbors across the state to be able to hear.”

Although several House Republicans are concerned about additional costs for insurance companies. They argue that the cost will eventually be passed on to the people who pay for their insurance. House Republican Leader Toni McCombie (R-Savannah) said she supports the plan, but she said Chung and legislative staff need to know how much the hearing aids will cost.

“We just have to be very careful when we go forward and know the facts behind what we’re legislating for,” McCombie said. “When we mandate it, it often happens that there is no coverage at all. We don’t want to go out of the market right away.”

However, House Democrats noted that insurance companies do not oppose the plan. Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) also said Illinois insurance companies made billions last year and won’t fight the legislation.

“My daughter, who works as a public school teacher, cannot afford her own hearing aids, which cost me $15,000,” said Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock (D-Villa Park). “It’s a drop in the bucket for the insurance company. People with hearing loss, it’s not their fault. They shouldn’t be paying for it.”

House Bill 2443 passed 83-25 with one representative voting. The proposal now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

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