WASHINGTON, DC—The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) launched a new Web site on Friday (April 25) as part of its campaign to spur passage of a federal tax credit of up to $500 per hearing aid for Baby Boomers, seniors, and parents of children with hearing loss. About 40% of people who do not use hearing aids, according to a recent BHI national study, are more likely to purchase them in the near future if the tax credit were available.

The BHI Web site, www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org, is a resource and tool for those concerned about the needs of people with hearing loss. It reaches out to adults 55+ and parents of children with hearing loss and ensures that their voice is heard in Washington.

“Our effort is grounded in the sad fact that, although 95% of people with hearing loss could be successfully treated with hearing aids, fewer than 23% of such Americans (7.38 million people) currently use them,” says BHI Executive Director Sergei Kochkin, PhD. “That’s tragic, and we as a nation must do better.”

Passage of HR 2329 and S 1410 could assist up to 1.2 million children and 11.5 million Americans ages 55 and above in treating their hearing loss. It could help those in need save up to 25% to 35% on the purchase of hearing aids.

Neither Medicare nor the vast majority of state mandated benefits cover hearing aid purchases. In fact, more than 70% of hearing aid purchases involve no third party payment at all, which places the entire burden of the purchase on the consumer. The average cost for a hearing aid, including fitting, evaluation, and post-fitting treatment, in 2004 was $1,800. Almost two-thirds of individuals with hearing loss require two devices, increasing average out of pocket expenses to $3,600.

The hearing aid assistance tax credit has won the support of the bipartisan Congressional Hearing Health Caucus, and, in an unprecedented fashion, organizations representing hearing health professionals, consumers, educators, providers, and manufacturers.

SOURCE: BHI

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