Skip to main content

IL Kids Need Hearing Aid Coverage

Did you know that most insurance companies consider hearing aids "cosmetic"? While IL and most states now provide newborn hearing screening, because they understand the importance of early intervention for children with hearing loss (hearing aids, cochlear implants, speech therapy, hearing services, introduction to sign language, etc.)many families struggle to find a way to pay the $2,000 to $3,000 that EACH hearing aid costs. If a family qualifies for IL's All Kids program there is coverage and other families can qualify for help through DSCC but that too is income based. We were very lucky that when Ethan was fitted for his first pair at four months old that we qualified for DSCC, but due to Jeff's raise we no longer due. While we are blessed that Jeff has a good job, and that our insurance does cover some of the costs associated with hearing aids there is a lot that they don't cover. Including ongoing hearing tests, earmolds, and a good portion of the hearing aids. Some insurances don't cover anything! They won't cover hearing aids, cochlear implants or the audiological services that children with hearing loss need. Most families, even when they are blessed to have one or both parents with "good" jobs can't easily come up with the several thousands of dollars needed for hearing aids.

Please take the time to sign this petition.

Comments

  1. That frustrates me so much, what "good" insurance company doesn't cover hearing aids for a child?. We live in Texas and my insurance didnt cover Cole's hearing aids. You have to separate them from a senior who looses their hearing with age. Hearing aids/Cochlears are essential for our little ones to thrive. I hope one day more benefits are out there for our kids and futures kids. :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"God Chooses Mom for Disabled Child" by Erma Bombeck

I don't think this is exactly how it works, but I had to share anyway. I believe with all my heart that God does not make mistakes, and although I will fully admit that it hurts my heart that any child is born (or develops) disabilities and/or life threatening illness, I know that God is sovereign and that He has a divine plan (even when we don't understand it!). I believe that God brought Jeff and I together and that He knew Ethan even as he was growing inside of me. While this is not the journey we would have dreamed of or chosen, and there are going to be times (and have been already) when we struggle, stumble and fall  it is our hope that in the end that we will bring glory and honor to the Lord.  God Chooses Mom for Disabled Child Written by Erma Bombeck Published in the Today Newspaper Sept. 4th, 1993 Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mother

Faces of Peroxisomal Biogenesis Disorders

This Saturday we are hosting the first annual Pancakes for PBD benefit.  All the proceeds will go to the Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders to help offset the costs for our family and others like us to attend this summer's 2012 Family Support Conference in Orlando, FL.  We hope that this will become an annual tradition and allow us to help raise awareness and money for peroxisomal biogenesis disorders. Here are just a few of the faces of PBD. 

So much and so little to write about...

When I started this blog I don't think that I could have imagined a time would come in which months would go by without me writing. However, that is what has happened. So much has changed over the last almost eight years since Ethan's birth and subsequent diagnosis with PBD-ZSD, yet at the same time so much hasn't. Unlike parents of typically developing children we find ourselves still parenting a child with complex medical needs who's developmental skills range anywhere from 9 to 18 months. Ethan still has PBD-ZSD, and right now his uncontrollable seizures are a major issue. We still fight PBD-ZSD the best we can each day with a basket full of medications and supplements and other medical interventions (feeding tube, cochlear implant, AFOs, etc), numerous therapies, school (which Ethan loves), and prayer. We advocate for him and all children and families impacted by PBD-ZSD and related peroxisomal disorders through our involvement in the Global Foundation for Perox