N.J. BILL WOULD REQUIRE INSURERS TO COVER SOME HEARING AID COSTS

Legislation is currently pending in the New Jersey Senate that would require insurance companies to pay all or part of the cost of hearing aids for children born with hearing loss.

The legislation, S.1524, is also known as "Grace's Law." It requires health insurers, the State Health Benefits Commission and the NJ FamilyCare Program to cover at least some of the cost of hearing aids for children 15 and younger -- up to $1,000 per hearing aid every 24 months.

The bill can be read at www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/S2000/1524_I1.PDF (http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/S2000/1524_I1.PDF).