Insurance companies will have to cover hearing aids for children under a bill approved by a House committee on Tuesday. JiaoJiao Shen has more from the Capitol.
Rep. Chuck Graham's bill requiring all health insurance companies to pay for hearing aids for children will go to the House floor.
The House Insurance Committee approved of the bill with little opposition Tuesday afternoon.
Graham says this bill specifically covers children because they are the ones who need hearing aids the most.
Only insuring children also has other benefits.
Rep. Bill Luetkenhaus, who voted for the bill, says it also prevents large increases in insurance premiums.
Higher insurance rates is the opposition to this bill.
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer says he voted against this bill because it will only raise insurance rates.
He says if insurance rates are raised, less people can afford it so they drop out of their plan, increasing the uninsured population.
It's not just Luetkemeyer who has this concern. Even supporters, like Luetkenhaus, recognize mandating insurance raises premiums so less people can afford it. But he still agrees with the bill.
The possibility that insurance rates increase is out there, but Graham says if there is rise, it will be within reason. Evidence shows that previous mandates in other states did not cause a rise in insurance rates.
Any change in rates will not be overly drastic because the bill requires insurance companies to cover about $1,250 a year, which Luetkenhaus says in not excessive.
After passing in a House committee, the bill is now headed to the House floor..
From the State Capitol, I'm JiaoJiao Shen.