Rep. Sharon Chung Passes Measure to Require Health Insurance to Cover Hearing Aids for All Illinoisans

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – All Illinois health insurance plans would cover medically-necessary hearing aids under a measure introduced by state Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, which advanced to the state Senate last week.

“Countless Illinoisans around our state are living without the gift of hearing because their insurance doesn’t cover hearing aids. This measure takes a major step to end many similar scenarios that are playing out right now,” Chung said. “It’s a privilege to be in a position to help thousands of Illinoisans get their hearing.”

Current laws require health insurance policies to cover medically-necessary hearing aids for people 18 and under. Chung’s House Bill 2443 removes that age restriction so that the requirement covers people of all ages.

HB 2443 passed the House with strong bipartisan support and is now set to be considered in the Senate.

“Doing away with an age restriction for coverage of such vital medical aid is further progress towards securing the right to high-quality affordable healthcare for all Illinoisans,” Chung said. “However, we shouldn’t imagine that sustained instances of avoidable hearing loss going untreated is the only treatable condition left unattended in our medical system. Too many people are living with little to no care for their health problems because they can’t afford to properly address them. It’s my goal as a lawmaker to fiercely combat such situations.”