Mandatory Cochlear Implants and Hearing Aids Policies In WI
Last year some Deaf people went to the Wisconsin state legislature to express their opposition to this bill. This bill that would force all health insurance companies to cover the expenses of cochlear implants and hearing aids for Deaf children living in Wisconsin, wasn’t passed during that session.
This bill recently passed both the Senate and the Assembly easily and is awaiting for the Governor to sign the bill. Once the bill is signed, the insurance companies can no longer deny these WI families coverage due to the deafness being a pre-existing condition. This law could save families hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The growing popularity of cochlear implants and its success rate reported by the parents of c.i. children and various organizations have been recognized by this state legislature. Other states are expected to make similar bills mandating insurance coverage in the near future due to intensive lobbying by its citizens and organizations representing hearing impaired people.
This passage shows even more the importance of educating the parents of these c.i. children the value of ASL. This way the children will have a language base before they receive cochlear implant. This linguistic foundation will make their ability to master listening and speaking easier AND help those children who may not benefit from cochlear implants. Bill Passes to Make Insurance Cover Children’s Hearing Restoration – WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin News:
Last year some Deaf people went to the Wisconsin state legislature to express their opposition to this bill. This bill that would force all health insurance companies to cover the expenses of cochlear implants and hearing aids for Deaf children living in Wisconsin, wasn’t passed during that session.
This bill recently passed both the Senate and the Assembly easily and is awaiting for the Governor to sign the bill. Once the bill is signed, the insurance companies can no longer deny these WI families coverage due to the deafness being a pre-existing condition. This law could save families hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The growing popularity of cochlear implants and its success rate reported by the parents of c.i. children and various organizations have been recognized by this state legislature. Other states are expected to make similar bills mandating insurance coverage in the near future due to intensive lobbying by its citizens and organizations representing hearing impaired people.
This passage shows even more the importance of educating the parents of these c.i. children the value of ASL. This way the children will have a language base before they receive cochlear implant. This linguistic foundation will make their ability to master listening and speaking easier AND help those children who may not benefit from cochlear implants. Bill Passes to Make Insurance Cover Children’s Hearing Restoration – WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin News:
April 24th, 2009 at 4:55 am
I’ve called Rep. David Cullen and Gov. Jim Doyle and urged them to vote against free cochlear implants and urged them to meet actual deaf adults and find that we are members of society and hold jobs without cochlear implants. The succession of the Bill will only pour money in the doctor’s white coats laughing at us. Please call Gov. Doyle immediately at 608-266-1212 or 715-762-5900 or 414-227-4344. Just do it!
April 24th, 2009 at 6:53 am
Now that this is becoming the new status quo, all deaf children getting CI’s and the prerequisite hearing aid trial beforehand, it would not be politically savvy for Deaf people to protest them.
Doing that would be akin to AGBell protesting the use of ASL in public TV.
Raising the profile of ASL in infancy and early childhood would be the better action.
There are several advantages besides the most important one of instilling language: ASL gives the parents a sense of reality about the deaf experience; it exposes parents to a communication system that can cover gaps in the future, it helps connect them to Deaf adults, and it creates a more inclusive atmosphere in childhood for the child and his friends.
There are more advantages but those come later in childhood and adulthood, if ASL still proves necessary.
April 24th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Hiya, I think the title for this article is a tad misleading — when I first saw the title, my first thought was, “Oh, my God, Wisconsin is forcing all deaf children to wear hearing aids or cochlear implants?” Perhaps rewording the title might be helpful.
April 24th, 2009 at 7:47 am
WHAT THE &%#!?& ! WHERE IS THE DBC?? WHERE IS THE AFA??
I guess that I have to do something legible all by myself with the Governor of Wisconsin to veto the ridicously stupid legislation.
People in general need to understand that the health insurance companies could not possibly cover everything.
Being deaf is not a matter of health or life and death matter.
If the state of Wisconsin eventually pass this legislation. I will make sure that this state will turn the green cheese for good!
RLM
April 24th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Midwestern, technically these cochlear implants and hearing aids are not provided for free. The taxpayers and their employers pay premiums for their health insurance coverages. Medicaid would be free and it’s my understanding that Medicaid is already covering cochlear implants. Cochlear implants are also covered by Medicare, but it’s not free as the patients must pay at least 20 percent of the bill. The majority of insurance companies, including Medicaid and Medicare, don’t cover hearing aids. With cochlear implants, this bill is aimed for private health insurance companies.
Dianrez, it seems to be the most practical approach, to me. The rate of cochlear implants had been increasing every year. Hearing culture doesn’t share the same values the Deaf Community have regarding deafness. So their mentality is to treat this as a medical condition and 95 percent of the deaf children’s parents are hearing. They want their children to share the same oral language, so listening and speaking are very important for these parents.
Sabasushi, I can see why. The problem is that the DeafRead space for the title is short. I did add Policies, but not enough room for insurance policies.
The title published in the newspaper is worse ‘Wis. could be first to require cochlear implants‘ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20090423/us-cochlear-implants/
Sorry for the scare. We live in America so the parents still have choices. That isn’t going away for a long time as parental rights are among the most fundamental rights recognized in this country.
RLM, many medical conditions are not life-threatening, yet they are covered by health insurance. Good example are erectile dysfunction and fertility treatments. Treatment for these non-life threatening conditions are covered.
The majority of the society doesn’t view deafness as a non-medical condition like we do.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Is this the same bill that Jack’s Eye brought up?
Anyway, I think it is a good bill. I would love to get new hearing aids. Been trying for a long time. They are expensive.
But I think having both the hearing device and ASL is the best way to go. What is ASL just doesn’t work for that deaf child, but hearing would. In fact, why not have the best of both worlds?
Just my 2 cents.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Insurance coverage for the implant is very common. Ironically, insurance coverage for hearing aids is not. Getting this bill passed would actually give parents more incentive to get hearing aids, rather than implants.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:48 am
K.L. is on point!
April 24th, 2009 at 11:12 am
I agree with K.L. This bill is useful for insurance coverage of hearing aids. Cochlear implants are mostly, if not all, covered by current policies.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
RLM- Knock it off! I,AFA are working with Wisconsin Deaf people now! We already work on it last night when we read article… We are there to get an appt for meeting with Gov.
We, midwest will keep update.
Thanks,
April 24th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
RLM, and others- that’s good-you take your heart to do something with Wis Deaf people.
yes, please write a letter to Gov Doyle, makes calls and fax them with your opinion and explain the facts. The statement “This bill is going to allow children to keep their hearing, to become members of society, to go to school and keep a job,” said state Rep. David Cullen, D-Milwaukee.”
that is AUDISM. If we don’t wear hearing aids, cochlear implants and use ASL, then we are not member of society, not able to keep a job, and seems not human being that we could serve and work all together. It needs to STOP– We, People of Eyes are Deaf, are belongs to earth and yes, we are equal with other human beings that could attend school, keep a job, and being Deaf if we don’t want cochlear implants, or hearing aids. We needs to educate them to stop audism and clarification their disinformation about all of us, people of eyes in Deaf community.
Wisconsin Deaf people needs all of your supports.
Thanks,
April 24th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
So because of audism, you are against a bill that would require insurance companies to pay for hearing aids if the person wants them? What right to you have to deny someone else of hearing aids? Are you goint to pay for them youself? Don’t let insurance companies get away with denying something they should be covering. This isn’t about audism, it is about forcing insurance companies to step up to the plate and do what they should be doing.
April 24th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I actually am not surprised about the outcome. What’s next? Stem Cells. Obama has announced a lifting of restrictions on stem cells. Obama has lifted the stem cells ban and have the researchers expanding the stem cell programs.
April 24th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Um, Ruthie, that’s a concept that will make no sense to people outside the Deaf community.
They’re unfortunately in the great majority, and 95% of the children born deaf today have hearing parents. Not going to happen that we can ban the CI or prevent insurance covering it. If we try, we, a small minority, lose all credibility.
It’s better for us to make a strong case for equal treatment for all d/Deaf people and raise awareness of audism that happens whether or not one wears a CI or hearing aids.
The first thing we need to tell them is that the CI does not turn deaf people into fully hearing people. It is not THE answer they are thinking.
We will still need assistance such as devices, equal protection under law, interpreters, CART, captioning and so on.
THAT is what we have to do, massive public education.
April 24th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
It would also help to have an ASL speaking person on the staff (or as a volunteer) at all CI audiology clinics, to help new parents understand that CIs and ASL can be compatable.
April 24th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
WOW, I read your post and all the comments above. I think they should cover hearing aids but not CI.
April 24th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Deb Ann,
Exactly! Medicare and Medicaid, according to a recent article about Health Care, upset many retired and elderly people as well as low-incomed people that M and M would not pay for their eye examination and pairs of eye glasses, but they would be willing to cover for the expenses on their hearing tests and cochlear implants.
They fail to understand that eyes are deaf and elderly people’s ears.
No to eyeglasses but ok to cochlear implant is wrong!
April 24th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Someone alerted me to this comment made by a state representative in the other newspaper article. He was totally out of line in making this statement. “This bill is going to allow children to keep their hearing, to become members of society, to go to school and keep a job,” said state Rep. David Cullen, D-Milwaukee.
Deaf people are already productive members of the society, attending schools and gainfully employed. He needs to apologize for making such an erroneous statement.
April 24th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Jean, I wasn’t aware that Medicaid and Medicare don’t cover the expenses of the eye examinations. That is unequal.
April 24th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
When that WI bill was up for discussion. Jack from Jack’s Eye went to the WI State Capital and spoke against the bill, ONLY and ONLY because Cochlear Implant was also included in the bill. He and others didn’t speak for others that really need to have that bill passed. Cochlear Implants are currently covered easily than hearing aids. In Illinois the deaf community there have rallied for their version of the hearing aid bill. These people in WI do not speak for people like myself and others who would benefit greatly from that bill. Currently my insurance company covers it. Yet, what about many other culturally deaf hoh, late deafened, etc that really need a voice to get that bill passed?
Who is anyone to say a deaf/hoh person has no right to WANT to hear? Ruthie and Jack, you are not speaking for all deaf and hard of people in WI.
The good news is that many insurances are now covering hearing aids, we may not really need state’s mandatory languages for insurance companies in WI because eventually, all insurance will cover implants and hearing aids.
April 24th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Many insurance do not have eye exam coverage unless there’s an injury or accidents. Usually many offer something comparable such as discounts. Anyone can buy a cheap eye insurance for exams, glasses and contacts among other procedures.
April 24th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Medicaid covers glasses for children, 100%.
April 25th, 2009 at 5:39 am
I guess I read it all too fast. SO, the bill passed. Gov. Doyle needs to sign. Hmm. Gov. Doyle will sign it and I do not think Ruthie or anyone can do anything about. Knowing Gov Doyle, he will sign it.
This is good news.
April 25th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Thanks, Miss Kat’s Mom.
I did some checking. Medicaid covers the expenses of eye examinations and eye glasses.
Medicare doesn’t cover regular eye examinations and eye glasses except for certain eye diseases like glaucoma and diabetes that may affect the visions and eye injuries. So Medicare has limited vision coverage.
April 25th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Ruthie and others,
The real reason for me threw out the questions – “Where is the DBC?” and “Where is the AFA?” to prod them into action.
I was very glad that Ruthie got responsive with our comments. One thing, I was not pleased with her saying “Knock it off”. I already forgave her anyway. I knew that Ruthie really don’t meant that. Just an implusive reaction.
Good to know that the AFA is doing something about the Wisconsin legislation’s manadatory requirements of health insurance companies to pay the cochlear implant surgery.
Our best options are to be allied with the affected health insurance companies to launch the public campaign blitz on Wisconsin television airwaves and newspaper ads placements.
Medicaid, Medicare and other health insurance usually cover anything surgical, not the removable objects like eyeglasses and hearing aids.
How sad of many health insurances and Medicaid and Medicare programs do not cover eye and teeth examination which are very crucial to our overall health!
Teeth cleanings and examinations are the main key to healthy living. If not for regular teeth cleanings, many people will have many health problems with respiratory infection and other health-related matters.
I rather see the health insurance companies cough up the reasonable coverage of eye and teeth examinations, instead of $100,000+ CI surgery for very few people.
Where are the real logical approach to our health issues?
Dianrez is bingo on many things. We could learn the real widsom from her.
RLM
May 7th, 2009 at 10:12 am
I oppose the idea of the cover the expenses of CIs by the private insurance companies is not urgent. It should be focused on the life threatening medical needs. The system goes wrong everywhere. Here in Massachusetts, I was told the private insurances can cover the CI but not the hearing aids. How interesting .. I prefer to purchase the hearing aid over CI for myself. Luckily my insurance covers it. oh well … Have a good day.
May 8th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Again Masshealth and Medicare don’t cover the eye examination and glasses either. I feel for some people who are legally blind and desperately need one. How can they afford them?
I have a friend of mine who is a nurse stated her hearing is deteriorating slowly and her insurance won’t cover the hearing aid expense! She needs a job to support herself! Systems go wrong!
May 8th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Medicare cover eye examinations and treatments if eye disorders, such as glaucoma or eye damage from diabetes, are detected. However, for normal eyes, no, Medicare doesn’t cover them just like it doesn’t provide dental coverage.
Some insurance programs do cover hearing aids, but they are far and few. We do need more insurance coverages
May 8th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Right …
October 20th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
This is quite the debate going on here… Alot of folks argue that if you want health care coverage that would cover hearing aids and implants… than you should pay a slightly higher premium for that coverage than someone who isn’t worried or at risk of hearing loss… All very intersting…
February 5th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
I don’t think that will good, being deaf is not a hassle for us to leave, so we don’t need for that “Mandatory Cochlear Implant”.
March 13th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Mishkazen
I did not read the SIGNews of March 2010 lately for two days after I am received a monthly which I really love SIGNews newspaper. until I typing in google and find your blog was about similar so I am sending.
Have you read these SIGNews. Very interesting! I read and feel sick with Judge. Judge told the father, Donald Shaun McLauglin may jailed for not requiring daughter to wear C.I. implants. My husband and I read and cannot understand it!!