Fifth-grade student JD Podojil, of Strongsville, named his hearing aids “J-Bucks” for JD and Bucks for his favorite sports team.
“And they are expensive,” JD told lawmakers while wearing an Ohio State University pullover. JD was fitted for bilateral hearing aids in the second grade after having mumps as a 4-year-old despite being vaccinated.
But JD’s hearing aids, which cost about $6,000 for the pair, aren’t covered by health insurance. Hearing aids are considered “cosmetic devices” instead of medical necessities.
But that is about to change after a more-than five-year effort. With Gov. Mike DeWine’s expected signature, Ohio law will soon require health insurance to cover up to $2,500 per hearing aid every four years for those age 21 and younger. A licensed professional must verify that patients are deaf or hearing impaired for them to qualify.
Ohio lawmakers approved the change to a sweeping piece of legislation early Thursday, and DeWine is expected to sign it into law in the coming weeks.