Hunter Martin’s two-year lobbying effort ended this week when the Republican governor signed a law requiring insurance companies to pay for replacement hearing aids every three yearsfor children under 18.
The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports that the 10-year-old Hunter lost one of his hearing aids at school. The Illiopolis boy waited two exhausting weeks for a replacement. His mother Ramona says he struggled so hard to hear in class he often took after-school naps.
Hunter began testifying before legislative committees to require insurance coverage of replacements of hearing aids, which can cost up to $4,000.
He calls his advocacy before the General Assembly “a wild ride to go through.”
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The bill was HB4516 .
