Encourage your local legislators to vote YES on SF0089, The Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aids Act.

Dear Senator (or Representative) [last name]: 

 

As your constituent, I urge your support for the passage of SF0089, a bill introduced by Senator Furphy, requiring health and disability insurance plans to cover hearing aids and hearing aid professional Services. This would largely benefit the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community of Wyoming which consists of 45,000+ residents(1). The global cost of unaddressed hearing loss reaches nearly $790 Billion dollars(2). If the legislature agrees to require health insurance companies to pay for hearing aids this will save taxpayer money in the long term. Hearing loss can lead to isolation and depression. Hearing Aids can help one to: hear better in situations that are important;  allow full participation with family, friends, and co-workers once again, and to stay connected, and even reduce unemployment among the deaf and hard of hearing population thereby reducing government spending on unemployment insurance. SF0089 represents the commitment of the state to improve the quality of life of its Deaf and hard-of-hearing constituents.  Vote YES on SF0089. Please advise me of the actions you intend to take with respect to this bill.

 

Thank you for your time and consideration,

(your name here)

 

Citations:

1. “Disability & Health U.S. State Profile Data: Wyoming.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 May 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/impacts/wyoming.html.

 

1. “Global Costs of Unaddressed Hearing Loss and Cost-Effectiveness of Interventions: A WHO Report, 2017.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 1 Jan. 1970, https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/254659.