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Lance Hearing Aid Bill Clears Budget Committee

Press Release

Date: June 9, 2008
Issues: Minors and Children Health Insurance


Lance Hearing Aid Bill Clears Budget Committee

Legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Budget Officer Leonard Lance that would require the State Health Benefits program, NJ FamilyCare and private insurers to cover the cost of hearings aids for children under the age of 15 passed the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

"Hearing aids will dramatically improve the quality of life for children with impaired hearing," Lance stated. "Opportunities in education and sports will expand for these children just by the addition of a relatively cheap simple device."

This bill provides a benefit of $1, 000 per hearing aid every 24 months to persons 15 years of age or younger; the hearing aid must be prescribed by a physician or audiologist. If a hearing aid costs any amount in excess of that, the insured person would have to pay the balance out of pocket. The bill would affect only insured health benefit plans as well as the self-insured State Health Benefit Plan.

"Giving children the sense of hearing is priceless. We must pass this law before more children fall behind in the classroom, ‘" Lance concluded.
"Grace's Law" is named for Grace Gleba, a New Jersey girl with a severe hearing impairment.


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