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Representatives Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) recently introduced legislation that would offer some financial relief to those purchasing hearing aids. H.R. 2329, the Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act would provide a tax credit of $500 per hearing aid every five years for seniors 55 and older and dependents of taxpayers. While H.R. 2329 will not cover the entire cost of hearing aids, the goal of the tax credit is to provide some financial relief to those in need of these devices.
"ASHA has been actively advocating for this bill," asserts Dr. Noma Anderson, ASHA President. "Financial constraints are cited as a core reason many Americans do not use hearing aids. Hearing aids are currently not covered under Medicare or under the vast majority of state mandated benefits. This bill will help the hearing impaired purchase these much-needed devices."
Ten million older Americans have age-related hearing loss. A study by the National Council on the Aging (NCOA) shows that, left untreated, hearing loss often results in distorted communication, isolation, withdrawal, depression, anger, severely reduced overall psychological health, in addition to an average loss of income per household of up to $12,000 per year.
For more information, please contact Stefanie Reeves, ASHA's Director of Political Advocacy, by e-mail at sreeves@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4452.
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