Illinois Kids Need Hearing Aid Coverage

Give Medicaid to Adults without Children, but no Hearing Aids to Kids?!?!

ilkidscanhear — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:05 +0000

I have not forgotten about this important matter. I just made phone calls and left messages with Senator Silverstein and Representative Brady regarding where these bills stand currently. I also left a message with Representative Scherer, who is new to the House and has previously worked in education. My hope is that someone will be able to recognize how important hearing aids are to children and adults and make this legislation pass. I just saw online that a House Committee has approved a bill that adds single, low-income adults without children as a group who should receive Medicaid. I am outraged that state feels that adults, as a whole, are more deserving than children. I am not saying that Adults do not deserve medical care, but with the Budget Crisis and the push to cut Pensions for teachers, how can we provide more Public Assistance. Meanwhile, the legislators will not even act on mandating insurance companies that employees pay for to provide hearing aids to our kids. Illinois is in serious financial decline and it is obviously because of the lack of prioritization on part of our legislators!!!

2/20 Hearing Meeting Cancelled, Maybe 2/26

ilkidscanhear — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:26:07 +0000

The hearing in the Insurance Committee for HB 1231 was canceled for yesterday, 2/20. Representative Brady did not call it to be heard for whatever reason. He and I have been playing phone tag, but I am hoping to hear from him tomorrow or Monday. The Illinois.gov website shows that it will be called for hearing on 2/26 at 4 p.m. I am assuming that it is scheduled for this time, but that is subject to Representative Brady calling it to the floor.

flyer-pic.jpg

ilkidscanhear — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:17:00 +0000

House Bill Hearing TOMORROW

ilkidscanhear — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 02:46:25 +0000

House Bill 1231 will be heard in the Illinois House Insurance Committee at 3 pm in Springfield on Wednesday, February 20 in Capitol Room 114. This is the bill that would establish standards for private hearing aid insurance coverage for people of all ages! This is a great opportunity and YOU can do something about it!

First, you can fill out a “witness slip” online to show your support for HB 1231. Check the box that says you are a “proponent” (a supporter), and check the box that says “record of appearance only” if you are not going to be in the room. Your name will be read out in committee as a supporter! So it is very important that the legislators hear a long list of supporters.

http://my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/Create/71738?committeeHearingId=10459&LegislationId=71738

House Bill & Senate Bill are here – call now

ilkidscanhear — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 02:23:24 +0000

Please go to http://www.capwiz.com/accessliving/issues/alert/?alertid=62402516 to send a note to your legislators. We need everyone in Illinois who believes people should be able to hear to contact their Senators and Representatives NOW. Please go to the above link and fill out the few simple steps, it will only take less than 5 minutes. Please support our children. Thank you

Update on meeting with Senator McCann

ilkidscanhear — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 02:18:46 +0000

I met with Senator McCann this morning and it was a wonderful meeting. We sat and talked for 45 minutes about the issues and needs of children in Illinois. I came prepared with a lot of paperwork and research, I think I may have shocked him a little, but he was pleased. I gave him information about other states that have insurance mandates, information about mandates that our state has already put into place for other treatment and disorders, a copy of all of the signature petitions, stories of children in central Illinois with hearing loss and a copy of the actuarial study from Massachusetts. There were other supporting documents, but those were my key pieces to talk about. He seems very much on board and explained how the process of beginning to make a law goes, which I honestly did not know and it was interesting. As for what my next steps are, I have a few. First, I am going to contact a few more members of the House and Senate and try to gain more support from both the House and Senate, as well as Republicans and Democrats. I am also waiting to hear back from the Senator regarding which committees he is assigned to, most importantly if he is assigned to the Insurance Committee, and if not who do we need to talk to on the Insurance Committee. I am also going to be creating a letter for everyone to send out to their local Representative and Senator when the bill has an official Senate Bill number to show your support. But for now, that is not necessary. I am very excited about this meeting and thankful for the support of Senator McCann. I hope that having a new fresh perspective on the issue, he will be able to help our children and make Illinois the next state to cover hearing aids.

Meeting has been scheduled

ilkidscanhear — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 20:47:45 +0000

I am meeting with Senator McCann in Springfield on Friday January 18th!!!!! I have to get all of my paperwork in order and ready to get this legislation going. So excited and nervous.

Radio Interview Today

ilkidscanhear — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 22:51:54 +0000

My interview regarding hearing aids, with Tara Nickerson on 100.9, will air between 5-6 tonight. It is a Decatur radio station. It will also be archived online after it airs and I will post a link when it is available.

Still need legislative support

ilkidscanhear — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:26:08 +0000

I have been leaving messages with Senator McCann. I am still trying to get a meeting set up with a legislator to get our voices heard. I will continue calling weekly and find a time to meet with him or any other legislator that is willing to meet. If anyone has any contacts, please email me. Thank you!!!!!!

200 to go!!!

ilkidscanhear — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:29:18 +0000

With the signatures that we have gotten online and those on the paper copies, we are at 800 signatures right now!!!!! Great work and thank you to everyone for passing it around. I would love to be able to walk into the Senators office when I get an appointment in the near future with 1,000 names of supporters for this cause. Please pass it on to your colleagues, friends, family and anyone else you may run into. I appreciate all of the support we have received thus far and I know we will get these extra 200 signatures soon.