LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Legislators gave a second listen to legislation to increase insurance opportunities for those suffering from hearing problems.

 Rep. Dale Zorn (R-Ida) recently testified to the House Insurance and Financial Services Committee in support of a bipartisan package of bills. 

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House Bill 4944, would provide Michigan children’s health insurance coverage for treatment of hearing loss through age 19, and also grant up to $3,000 in coverage per hearing aid every 36 months.

“I think we had a lot of good discussions, we had a great panel,” Rep. Zorn said to Michigan News Source in an interview, “there were some professionals there that really put it out there how important it is to get kids hearing help.  It’s no different from what eyeglasses are, we have insurance coverage for eyeglasses, and I don’t know why we never did for hearing because hearing is as important as seeing – especially in the developmental years.” 

Rep. Zorn defended the idea of keeping the age up through 19. 

“One of the questions I hear, is why we go up to 19,” he said in the interview.  “Well that’s the developmental years and I think we need to start somewhere with this, and it’s a good start.” 

Under HB 4963, which is sponsored by Rep. Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills), would provide hearing related services including: audiological examinations, hearing aid evaluation and maintenance or repairs, and audiologist and speech language pathology services. 

“Hearing aids are not a cosmetic choice, and just as eyeglasses are covered by insurance to assist in vision, we believe it is our moral and societal responsibility to extend similar support for hearing-impaired children,” Rep. Steckloff said in a statement. “Indeed, approximately four hundred children are born in Michigan every year with hearing impairments or will develop one before starting school. We aim to ensure that every child under the age of 19 in Michigan has access to the tools they need to succeed.” 

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Rep. Zorn has previously mentioned how like vision, hearing disabilities create a profound disadvantage for the development of Michigan youth, and that it is estimated that 30 out of every 1,000 school age children will struggle with hearing loss- affecting their education and lifetime.

He has been working on similar legislation for roughly 11 years, when a constituent brought it to his attention. 

“It came to my attention when I was in the House the first time, from KT Maviglia, a former Miss Michigan. She is hard of hearing and she brought the issue to me.”

Rep. Zorn is hopeful that the bills will be voted favorably next week. 

“I think the important thing is that kids need all the help they can get in their developmental years and the opportunity to help their hearing is so important to their overall development.  

Roughly 400 kids are born with hearing problems every year according to Rep. Zorn. 2,700 kids in Michigan schools that have hearing loss according to statistics from the state Department of Education. 

The bill’s fiscal estimates a policyholder’s premium cost would be between 10 and 17 cents more per month, but would ultimately save the state government roughly $650,000 per individual in lifetime support. 

“Child access to hearing aids isn’t a partisan issue, I’m pleased to have Rep. Steckloff’s bipartisan support in our mutual effort,” Rep. Zorn said. 

Hearing loss is the third most common chronic physical condition in the United States, twice as prevalent as diabetes or cancer according to the National Council of Aging.