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Buono Bill To Cover Hearing Aids For Children To Become Law On Tuesday

Senator Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) speaking at the bill signing for Pension and Benefits Reform.

TRENTON –Legislation sponsored by Senator Barbara Buono to mandate health care providers cover hearing aids for people 15 years old and younger will be signed into law by Governor Richard J. Codey on Tuesday, December 30th at 11:30 at the Governor’s Outer Office.

“Children should not be forced to due without hearing aids because the costs are too high to pay out of pocket and insurance companies refuse to cover the expense,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “By requiring insures to cover the expenses, we can reduce the long-term costs of care for our children, and help improve their quality of life.”

The bill, S-467, is named “Grace’s Law” after Grace Gleba, an eight-year-old girl from Warren County with a severe hearing impairment. When enacted, the measure will require health insurers in New Jersey to provide coverage for medically necessary hearing aids for children less than 16 years of age.

According to Senator Buono, partial hearing loss is the number one birth defect in America, and fortunately, hearing aids can help to minimize the adverse affects of hearing loss when used at such a young age.

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