{"id":820,"date":"2023-01-19T16:30:21","date_gmt":"2023-01-20T00:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seattledrumschool.com\/?p=820"},"modified":"2024-03-03T23:14:05","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T07:14:05","slug":"sdsm-student-on-king-5-8-year-old-wants-to-change-state-hearing-aid-laws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seattledrumschool.com\/dev\/sdsm-student-on-king-5-8-year-old-wants-to-change-state-hearing-aid-laws\/","title":{"rendered":"SDSM Student on King 5: “8-year-old wants to change state hearing aid laws”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our drum student testified to WA State Legislature yesterday on House Bill 1222<\/a>, which would require private insurance companies to offer hearing aid benefits. He was such a professional!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hugo\u2019s family would immensely appreciate community support in pursuing this legislation. Please see how to support below the article\/video. #thankyou<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UPDATE 2\/3\/23<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hello WA friends,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please click below and sign in as pro for HB 1222’s public hearing in the Appropriations Committee on 2\/8 where only 4 people have been asked to testify and Hugo and I are two of them! If this passes our insurance premium will go up by $0.40\/month to make sure private insurances in WA state cover hearing aids. It is unacceptable that kids and adults in WA state go without aids who need them. Please share this link around. Signing in as pro shows support and the more support the better. You can make a change and a difference in people’s lives by helping here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you! It is super quick and easy,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jill and Hugo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/app.leg.wa.gov\/csi\/Testifier\/Add?chamber=House&mId=30673&aId=150876&caId=21196&tId=3<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

FROM KING 5 SEATTLE: ‘It will help a lot of people’: Seattle 8-year-old wants to change state hearing aid laws<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Author: Drew Mikkelsen Updated: 7:22 PM PST January 18, 2023<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OLYMPIA, Wash. \u2014 Hugo Esterhay doesn\u2019t like to think about what it would be like to go to school without his hearing aids. \u201cThe idea is terrifying,\u201d said Esterhay, an 8-year-old from Seattle. He testified before state legislators Wednesday encouraging them to pass a bill requiring private insurance companies to offer benefits for hearing aids for children and adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The instruments Esterhay\u2019s used since he was diagnosed with mild to moderate hearing loss at age 3, have cost his family thousands of dollars. Esterhay started his speech saying, “I really hope you can pass this bill. I know it will help a lot of people.” \u201cHearing aids are not optional for us, we need them. I can\u2019t hear without my hearing aids. It makes me really sad to know that some kids can\u2019t have them,\u201d Esterhay told lawmakers Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When his mother, Jill Bujnevicie, learned insurance didn\u2019t cover hearing aids, she contacted her state Representative, Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, the prime sponsor of House Bill 1222<\/a>. The law would require insurance companies to cover up to $5,000 for hearing instruments. Bujnevicie said her family is fortunate they can afford Hugo\u2019s hearing aids. She said they have helped improve her son\u2019s performance at school. \u201dWithout these devices Hugo never would have met his potential,\u201d Bujnevicie told House members. She said it’s “heartbreaking” some families cannot afford hearing aids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current state law requires public employee health plans to offer hearing coverage. Medicaid also offers the benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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