Oregon is joining the growing list of states requiring insurance coverage of hearing aids for children. House Bill 2589 mandates coverage of hearing aids for kids under 18, PLUS it was amended by the Oregon Senate to require hearing aid coverage for dependents attending higher education. An examination of the legislative text showed no mention of cochlear implants in the legislation. I did a search, but can not find any evidence of any existing legislation in Oregon that would require insurance companies to cover cochlear implants, too. At least now parents in Oregon who can not afford hearing aids for their children, will have that option available to them before turning to the cochlear implant option if hearing aids do not work.
The trend is clear...more and more states are going to be requiring insurance coverage of hearing aids for children and/or cochlear implants. State governments are recognizing that hearing aids/cochlear implants are not a cosmetic thing for children, but a necessity to help them communicate and develop language skills. Since states lead the way, it is only a matter of time before the numbers are sufficient enough to result in legislation on a national level to require all insurance companies to cover hearing aids and/or cochlear implants.
You stated this:
cochlear implants are not a cosmetic thing for children, but a necessity to help them communicate and develop language skills.”
You do realize that cochlear implants are not s necessity for developing language. The necessity is that people start to understand that language doesn’t always mean spoken language. Deaf babies and children can naturally learn language without cochlear implants. All it takes is for their hearing families to seek out ways to immerse themselves and their child into ASL. We did it and anyone can if they are motivated for their child to have access immediately to language.
Guide note: I said hearing aids/cochlear implants are not a cosmetic thing. That means I said BOTH. So in effect, you are saying that hearing aids are not needed for developing language, either.
Will this include all the insurance from out of state that has provider in oregon?