“Ally’s Act” is a National level bipartisan bicameral bill inspired by 13-year-old, Ally Tumblin, that would Expand Access to Specialized Hearing Devices through insurance
Here’s how to advocate for this piece of legislation!
On March 30th, 2023, Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO) re-introduced Ally’s Act, H.R. 2439, along side Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA). Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.A) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) are leading Ally’s Act through the Senate. Ally’s Act, S. 1135 was re-introduced by Senator Capito on April 14th, 2023. H.R. 2439 and S. 1135 would ensure coverage for bone anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants which are often denied by private insurers as not being medically necessary or excluded from insurance plans. The bill would cover the cost of the hearing devices, provide an upgrade every 5 years, cover the cost of surgery including associated appointments and services that come along with the treatment of these hearing devices. This bill would cover both children and adults from birth to age 64! Bone anchored hearing devices and cochlear implants are used by children and adults who have hearing loss types that cannot benefit from traditional hearing aid technology. With passage of Ally’s Act, H.R. 2439/S. 1135, every state would benefit from the services under this bill through private insurers.
Our lawmakers need to hear from everyone in our community and from the families and individuals who have been denied coverage for these hearing devices! We are asking for everyone to write to your local Congressmen and Senators in every state, asking them to co-sponsor Ally’s Act, H.R. 2439 and S. 1135. Friends, relatives, medical professionals, teachers – everyone can help champion this legislation by advocating through letters, phone calls, emails and scheduling appointments with your local lawmakers. *** IMPORTANT: IF YOU ALREADY WROTE LETTERS ADVOCATING FOR ALLY’S ACT IN 2019, 2020, 2021 AND 2022, YOU NEED TO WRITE AGAIN DURING THIS SESSION REFERENCING THE BILL NUMBERS FOR THE 118TH SESSION (H.R. 2439 and S. 1135).
You can find boiler plate template letters and call scripts on Ear Community’s website as well as the 1-pager and list of endorsers that would need to be mailed or handed in with your letters. Everything is already created to help make things easy, but personal letters are encouraged!
Allys-Act-1-pager-for-118th-session-1
Ally’s Act Endorsements
How to find your Congressman and Senators to write to:
It is very important that you ask your local Representative to co-sponsor this bill. This is the Representative that directly serves the district in which you live in. Here are two links that will help you find who your local Representative is to write to:
You can find out who your local Congress representative is at the following link here.
You can find out who your local Senate representative is at the following link here.
It is very important that we advocate for this legislation! Everyone has a voice and it matters! Bills do not pass themselves. So, please help us by advocating for this legislation! Many families take their children to meet with their local Representatives when asking them to co-sponsor Ally’s Act. This is such a wonderful experience to be a part of! Thank you to everyone for helping us get Ally’s Act passed! Ally’s Act would help our children today, but also when they become adults tomorrow! Ally’s Act also helps the individuals who have lost their hearing overnight due sensorineural hearing loss or due to head trauma from an accident, or damage to hearing from tumors such as cholesteatomas and acoustic neuromas or from otitis media and from drug ototoxicity from medication treatment.
“For Ally and for countless Americans across this nation, specialized hearing devices are critical for communicating. For insurance companies to deny coverage for these essential devices is unconscionable. We must continue to push for the enactment of this legislation to expand critical care for so many. I am thankful to Ally and her family for bringing this issue to our attention, and proud to continue the fight,” said Congressman Joe Neguse.
“When an insurance provider denies coverage for a child or adult to obtain a bone conduction hearing device or cochlear implant, the opportunity for communication and to pursue certain careers is taken away. It is imperative that private insurers provide access to these types of hearing devices, including the necessary hearing health care that is associated with them. Ally’s Act would ensure coverage for these hearing devices, improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, “ said Melissa Tumblin, Ally’s Mother and the Founder and Executive Director of Ear Community.
The bill is widely supported, with many individuals born with microtia and atresia calling on lawmakers to get Ally’s Act passed.
Shannon Culbertson is an audiologist who was born with bilateral microtia and atresia–meaning both ears and ear canals are missing. Culbertson chose her career because she wanted to help others with hearing loss. On the reintroduction of Ally’s Act Shannon Culbertson, Au.D. and Ear Community Board Member, stated: “As an audiologist that wears a bone conduction hearing device, I have personally felt the frustration of insurance denying coverage for my ability to access communication in my everyday environment. Insurance coverage should not dictate who has access to sound. Ally’s Act will improve the quality of life and peace of mind for individuals and families that rely on these devices for spoken language”.
Rep. Neguse and his colleagues introduced this legislation in both the 116th and 117th sessions of Congress.
“Hearing loss challenges millions of Americans every year, and access to these devices can vastly improve quality of life,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will make a difference for those suffering from hearing loss.”
“Millions of Americans experience disabling hearing loss and having access to hearing implants is essential to the well-being of those who experience varying levels of deafness,” said Congressman Thompson. “As one of those Americans who lives with hearing loss, I am proud to reintroduce Ally’s Act with Reps. Neguse and Fitzpatrick and Senators Warren and Capito to make sure that private insurance covers needed hearing technologies. This bill will help to secure a bright future for American children who have experienced hearing loss.”
“Auditory implant devices and external sound processors can be life-changing for individuals who suffer from severe hearing loss. That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce Ally’s Act, legislation that would ensure insurance companies cover these hearing aids and provide relief to those born with hearing loss and their families. Our senses are something we too often take for granted, and I will continue to work to establish better access to these critical hearing devices,” Senator Capito said.
“Too many people across the United States can’t access critical and life-changing hearing devices because they just can’t afford them,” said Senator Warren. “I wrote the bill that made hearing aids available over-the-counter, and I am excited to reintroduce a bipartisan bill that will ask insurers to chip in so those who need specialized hearing devices can access them.”
Ally Tumblin asking for advocates to support Ally’s Act, H.R. 2439 and S. 1135.
The Tumblin Family, the Ear Community Organization along with its endorsers and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community are grateful for this piece of legislation and for the leadership behind this bill! Please help us advocate for Ally’s Act, H.R. 2439 and S. 1135!
Thank you,
Melissa Tumblin
Founder – Executive Director
Ear Community
