Up for a Challenge with SB2516?
Hearing Aid 2008 Hello, my name is JulieAnn Chavez and I am the leader for Illinois Senate Bill 2516.  First, I would like to update all of you on SB2516. The bill is currently out of insurance committee for the time being.  Thank … Continue reading →
Wed, Dec 17 2014

Viagra, Covered. Hearing Aids Are Not.
Hearing Aid 2008 That’s right, insurance companies will provide coverage for Viagra, but not for hearing aids.  It is time to change that! [link]
Wed, Dec 17 2014

Action Needed for S.B. 2516 –What to Do
Hearing Aid 2008 Folks, Good News: Illinois Senate Bill 2516 made it TEMPORARILY out of the insurance committee!! This is THANKS to all of you who placed calls to your Senators and the Insurance Committee.  This is fantastic and we need to continue … Continue reading →
Wed, Dec 17 2014

Up for a Challenge with SB2516?
Hearing Aid 2008 Hello, my name is JulieAnn Chavez and I am the leader for Illinois Senate Bill 2516.  First, I would like to update all of you on SB2516. The bill is currently out of insurance committee for the time being.  Thank you to all of you for calling, writing, and sending postcards to your Senators.  Your [...]
Mon, Mar 15 2010

Viagra, Covered. Hearing Aids Are Not.
Hearing Aid 2008 That's right, insurance companies will provide coverage for Viagra, but not for hearing aids.  It is time to change that! [link]
Sat, Mar 13 2010

Action Needed for S.B. 2516 –What to Do
Hearing Aid 2008 Folks, Good News: Illinois Senate Bill 2516 made it TEMPORARILY out of the insurance committee!! This is THANKS to all of you who placed calls to your Senators and the Insurance Committee.  This is fantastic and we need to continue our calls!  Your phone calls, postcards and letters are working!!   What happens now? It has been re-referred to [...]
Fri, Mar 12 2010

Illinois Folks Speak Out for Hearing Aid Coverage
Hearing Aid 2008 John Schmidt – Hearing Aids Should Be Covered By Insurance [link]     Carly Callans and her hearing aids [link]   Carey Seigel – I want hearing aids covered by insurance [link] Special thanks to Patrick Hughes from Inclusion Solutions for the videos.
Wed, Mar 10 2010

Deadline to Pass Hearing Aid Insurance Bill Coming Up
Hearing Aid 2008 Folks!! The deadline to get SB2516 out of the insurance committee is looming... I urge all of you to call the members of the insurance committee EVERY DAY!  Encourage your friends and family to make calls– the more calls we generate, the more we can make this bill into law!  Senator William R. Haine.......217-782-5247 Senator Bill --- [...]
Thu, Mar 04 2010

Keep on Calling for S.B. 2516, Update on Hearing Date
Hearing Aid 2008 I am aware that many of you are watching the ilga.gov website for latest updates on the bill and scheduling of hearings. SB2516 is shown to have a hearing on Thursday, March 4th- The hearing will NOT be taking place. Please know that the SB2516 is still being negotiated at this point in time [...]
Sat, Feb 27 2010

S. B 68 is now S. B. 2516 for Insurance for Hearing Aids!
Hearing Aid 2008 S. B. 68 is now S. B. 2516.  It is in the insurance committee and will be considered on Wednesday, February 24, 2010.  This week is critical for the bill– call your Senators and get them to sign on as a co-sponsor of this bill. A message from Julie Chavez, who is leading this cause: Okay [...]
Tue, Feb 23 2010

Senate Bill 68 makes it on ABC Channel 7!!
Hearing Aid 2008 On Sunday, May 24, 2009 ABC Channel 7’s Karen Meyer did a compelling segment on Senate Bill 68 (SB68) of which is legislation mandating insurance companies to provide insurance coverage with no age restrictions. The segment included Senator Ira Silverstein who is the sponsor for SB68, Dana Craig of LIFE Center for Independent Living [...]
Tue, May 26 2009

SB 68 Update–Keep Pushing for It!
Hearing Aid 2008 SB 68 is still very much alive.  We have an extension until May 31st, this means we need to really ramp up the calls, emails, letters and faxes to the Illinois Senators. Take a look at the current sponsors: Senate Sponsors Sen. Ira I. Silverstein – Jacqueline Y. Collins – Martin A. Sandoval, Dan Cronin, A. J. Wilhelmi, [...]
Fri, May 15 2009

Kids in Oklahoma Wait Up to a Year for Hearing Aids
Hearing Aid 2008 According to this recent news item: Joanna Smith, Hearts for Hearing chief executive officer, said the high cost of technology and the lack of coverage by insurance providers prevent many babies diagnosed with hearing loss at birth from being fit with hearing aids for more than a year. It isn't just babies in Illinois that do [...]
Sat, Apr 04 2009

Hearing Aid Bill–New Sponsors and Letter Writing Campaign
Hearing Aid 2008 Senate Bill 68 is gathering steam!  Senators Martin Sandoval and Dan Cronin have become the newest co-sponsors for the Hearing Aid Bill in Illinois.  Julie Chavez, Deaf Services Coordinator at Dupage Center for Independent Living would like to announce another letter writing campaign at her office: SB68 is a bill to mandate insurance coverage for hearing aids [...]
Thu, Mar 26 2009

Every Little Effort
Hearing Aid 2008 I guess my daughter was a little disillusioned. She had come with me and her big brother to Springfield to testify before the senate insurance committee, and as it turned out we didn't share our testimony. Our bill was referred to a subcommittee and the proceedings were brief, although Jay Welu and Karen Putz gave [...]
Fri, Mar 20 2009

Take Action to Get Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aids
Hearing Aid 2008 Chicago Moms Blog: The Time is Now for Hearing Aid Insurance Coverage Do you feel the same way? Then let’s take some action.   Call the Senators below and tell them you want them to support SB 68 which would provide hearing aid insurance coverage for Illinois residents of all ages.  Yes, that's all you have to tell [...]
Wed, Mar 18 2009

Insurance Companies and Hearing Aids–The Time is Now!
Hearing Aid 2008 Karen Putz describes her experience at the Senate Insurance Committee Hearing on SB68 on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 in the following blog: Insurance Companies and Hearing Aids–The Time is Now!
Thu, Mar 12 2009

Hearing Aid Coverage for All Ages–Not Just Children
Hearing Aid 2008 Take a moment to watch this video by Dennis O'Brien, in which he explains the status of Senate Bill 68 which originally was to provide insurance coverage to Illinois residents of all ages. Now two amendments have been introduced which is turning the bill into coverage up to age 18. The time is NOW. [...]
Mon, Mar 09 2009

Illinois Senate Bill 68–Action Needed!
Hearing Aid 2008 The following bill, Illinois Senate Bill 68 will come up on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 4 p.m. in Springfield.   Please plan to attend if you can.  Please call your Senator immediately and tell them to support this historical bill which will provide hearing aid coverage via insurance for all ages: BILL:  Amends the Illinois Insurance [...]
Tue, Mar 03 2009

2009’s Illinois Senate Bill 68
Hearing Aid 2008 Introduced in January of 2009 by Senator Ira Silverstein, Illinois Senate Bill 68 seeks to provide insurance coverage of hearing aids for people of all ages. Legislation which states that insurance companies must cover hearing aids has already been passed in 12 states. Previous legislation has been attempted in Illinois and has failed. This is why your [...]
Wed, Feb 11 2009

Take the Hearing Aid Action Survey
Hearing Aid 2008 Lawmakers love to see the cold hard facts outlined.  What are families going through when their child is diagnosed with a hearing loss?  How do families afford hearing aids when their insurance company doesn't cover them?  How often do families purchase hearing aids?  Do some people choose to obtain a cochlear implant over hearing aids [...]
Thu, Dec 04 2008

Birth to Age 24 Hearing Aid Coverage in Delaware
Hearing Aid 2008 Delaware Approves Hearing Aid Benefit Audiologists Hail New Law That Provides Coverage from Birth to Age 24   see also: The Power of Advocacy cite as: Shafer, D. N. (2008, Aug. 12). Delaware approves hearing aid benefit. The ASHA Leader, 13(10), 1, 8. by Dee Naquin Shafer Effective Jan. 1, 2009, new hearing aid insurance legislation will benefit Delaware residents f...
Tue, Sep 30 2008

Mike Demer’s Story
Hearing Aid 2008 This is Mike Demers from Mundeliein, Illinois.  I grew up in Massachusetts where I received free hearing aids when I was young.  I moved to Illinois in 1995.  I had to pay for new hearing aids in 1998 because it is not covered by insurance.  It is now 2008 and my hearing aids are very [...]
Sat, Sep 06 2008

Jessica Bianco’s Story
Hearing Aid 2008 This morning as I listened to my clock ticking my son was sleeping next to me. Because he was not wearing his hearing aids, he was completely unaware of the ticking. The clock screamed at me, “WRITE THE STORY, WRITE THE STORY, WRITE THE STORY”. My story is overdue. I promised I would submit it [...]
Fri, Aug 22 2008

Just $1.27 for Insurance Coverage
Hearing Aid 2008 From the newsroom of the WTMJ-TV, Channel 4 News, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Tuesday, February 19, 2008 ..... On Deaf Ears Folo by John Mercure Some deaf Wisconsin children continue to go without the tools that could bring sounds to their silent world. Insurance companies refuse to pay for hearing aid coverage saying it would raise everyone's rates. The reality i...
Wed, Aug 20 2008

Hearing Aid Action Will Be on ABC News
Hearing Aid 2008 Tune into ABC News, Channel Seven, at eleven a.m. on Thursday, July 24th to watch Karen Meyer interview the representatives and individuals involved with Hearing Aid Action. The segment will air around 11:20 a.m.
Wed, Jul 23 2008

Hearing Aid Action Survey
Hearing Aid 2008 Hearing Aid Action has created a survey to collect data about deaf and hard of hearing consumers in Illinois who use hearing aids.  Please take a moment to take this survey: Click Here to take survey
Mon, Jul 07 2008

Colorado Governor Signs Hearing Aid Mandate
Hearing Aid 2008 Colorado Governor Signs Hearing Aid Coverage Mandate     On June 3, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed Senate Bill 57, which mandates that health insurance companies cover the cost of hearing aids for Colorado children ages birth to 18. The law will take effect January 1, 2009. The legislation was spearheaded by the Coalition for Children's Hearing [...]
Wed, Jun 25 2008

Deb Mussallem’s Story
Hearing Aid 2008 I remember 40 years ago to this day, when I was a child, how my parents, who are deaf, learned from my kindergarten teacher that I was not hearing her when she called me in class.  Hearing tests were performed and I was diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss.  Although I would have benefited far better [...]
Tue, Jun 17 2008

Susan Etkie’s Story
Hearing Aid 2008 I have been a hearing aid user since very young. My parents always made sure I had a working hearing aid as well as one meeting my needs. Growing up I did not realize the cost of a hearing aid. I have been married for 30 years. I have very good speech and many people often do not realize [...]
Tue, Jun 17 2008

Julie Chavez’s Story
Hearing Aid 2008 Hello!  My name is JulieAnn Chavez and I am married to my husband of 22 years, Jim Chavez.  Jim and I are hard of hearing so between the two of us; we have four hearing aids.  During our 22 years of marriage, we purchased one pair of hearing aids for each of us and that [...]
Thu, Jun 12 2008

Hearing Aid Action on Upcoming ABC News Segment
Hearing Aid 2008   From left to right:  Rep. Sandy Pihos, Karen Meyer, Julie Chavez, Rep. Patricia Bellock, Karen Putz and Jennifer Egetimeier Representatives Sandy Pihos and Patricia Bellock are actively involved in Hearing Aid Action and working with parents, deaf/hard of hearing adults and professionals to draft/revise a bill that will provide coverage for hearing aids. Karen Meyer...
Wed, Jun 11 2008

Hearing Aid Coverage–What Other States Are Doing
Hearing Aid 2008 Jennifer Egetimeier, the mom behind the Illinois “Have You Heard?” campaign to pass a previous bill for hearing aid coverage has some excellent information to share about what is happening in other states to provide hearing aid coverage: The states that mandate insurance coverage for hearing aids are: 1. Connecticut 2. Kentucky 3. Louisiana 4. Maryland 5. ...
Tue, Jun 10 2008

Joanne’s Story
Hearing Aid 2008 I am profoundly deaf and wear one hearing aid.  Every five years or so, I would need to buy a new hearing aid.  My insurance does not cover hearing aids. The cost of hearing aids has gone up TOO high.   In the past , without insurance,  it was manageable to purchase a $500 to $700 analog [...]
Mon, Jun 09 2008

Kelly’s Hearing Aid Story
Hearing Aid 2008 My name is Kelly and I am 29 years old. Last year I found out that I needed hearing aids for both ears. They are not sure why I lost my hearing. They said it could just be hereditary or it may have something to do with an ear infection I had before that.   When I [...]
Mon, Apr 28 2008