WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) today reintroduced the Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Act to expand Medicare to cover hearing aids for beneficiaries. Medicare does not currently cover hearing aids, which have an average price of about $2,500.
Hearing loss affects nearly 48 million Americans and, left untreated, has serious emotional, social and medical consequences for older adults. Research has shown older adults with hearing loss are 32 percent more likely to require hospitalization, face a 24 percent increased risk for cognitive impairment and increasingly suffer from isolation and depression. A 10-year longitudinal study of patients in Baltimore found that those with hearing loss had a higher probability of developing dementia, with the probability rising as the severity of the hearing loss increased.
“Denying people access to hearing aids leaves them isolated and threatens their physical and mental health,” said Dingell. “If we expand coverage for hearing aids under Medicare, we can change not just the lives of people with hearing loss, but the lives of their family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. It’s this simple: no one should feel isolated, confused or shutout from the world because they cannot afford the treatment they need.”
“We are grateful for Congresswoman Dingell's leadership in adding hearing coverage to Medicare. A growing body of evidence suggests a link between untreated hearing loss and early onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease,” said Max Richtman, President and CEO of National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. “Hearing loss contributes to social isolation that can hasten cognitive decline and lead to depression. The Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Act will immediately improve the lives of beneficiaries who would otherwise be unable to afford hearing aids while helping delay cognitive disorders that rob seniors' of their dignity, saving Medicare and Medicaid billions of dollars and alleviating strain on family members and caregivers.”
One of Dingell’s top priorities is bringing the nation’s long-term care system into the 21st Century. The Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Act addresses one piece of the puzzle by improving access to hearing aids and related examinations. The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on insurance programs that provide services to help with hearing loss.
The Medicare Hearing Aid Coverage Act is cosponsored by Reps. Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Doris Matsui (CA-06), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kathleen Rice (NY-04), Lloyd Doggett (TX-25), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09).
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