For families of children with hearing loss, access to hearing aids isn’t just about sound—it’s about opportunity. Yet for decades, California’s private health insurance plans have failed to cover these critical devices, leaving thousands of kids without the tools they need to thrive.
The consequences are profound: developmental delays, educational barriers, and lifelong challenges that could be mitigated with early intervention. While over 30 states already require hearing aid coverage for kids, California has lagged behind—until now.
A Turning Point for Kids’ Health
Thanks to relentless advocacy and bipartisan policy efforts, California is finally poised to include hearing exams and aids in its Essential Health Benefits benchmark for 2027. This change could transform lives, ensuring children with hearing loss get the support they need during their most critical years of growth.
Want to understand how this policy shift happened—and why it matters? Read the deep dive here: Kids Can’t Wait: Policymakers Take Action to Include Hearing Aids in California’s New Health Insurance Benchmark .
