Massachusetts State Grange Deaf and Hearing Awareness Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act – H.R. 2329/S. 1410 You most likely know someone who has a hearing loss. Whether it affects a relative, child, friend or co-worker, or even yourself, hearing loss is a prevalent and often neglected concern. Hearing loss affects over 30 million Americans or 1 in every 10 people; in fact, it's the second most common birth defect. Despite these staggering numbers and the fact that hearing aids could treat 95% of all hearing loss, Medicare and most insurance policies expressly exclude coverage, making treatment an expensive endeavor. The Hearing Aid Tax Credit (H.R. 2329 and S. 1410) is legislation drafted with these real concerns in mind. If enacted, it would provide a $500 tax credit per hearing aid available once every 5 years for dependents and for those aged 55 and older. With an average cost of $1,800 including fitting and follow-up, hearing aid treatment can result in unexpectedly high costs for the average American. The tax credit would help millions of people seeking hearing aid treatment since $500 can make the difference when deciding whether you can afford treatment. The tax credit has wide bi-partisan support, is supported by nearly every hearing health organization and advocacy group, and addresses a real and too often ignored healthcare need. Your support is needed, however, to let your Senators and Representative know that the Hearing Aid Tax Credit would make a real difference in your life. So please, contact your Congressmen and tell them how the Hearing Aid Tax Credit could help you. For more information about this legislation and to contact your Congressman and Senators go to http://www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org/index.cfm Take Action Now http://www.hearingaidtaxcredit.org/action.cfm

Approximately 34 million Americans have a significant hearing loss according to the Health Statistics of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Of these 34 million Americans almost six million are profoundly deaf. In 1970 the National Grange adopted deafness as its health project. Throughout the years this program has evolved to include all levels of hearing loss.  Local Granges support the program by educating themselves and others about hearing loss.  Projects which benefit deaf and hard of hearing persons are accomplished by the The Massachusetts State Grange Deaf and Hearing Awareness Programs.   The Massachusetts State Grange Deaf and Hearing Awareness Health Project is the Beverly School for the Deaf, Parent-Infant/Toddler Program. This is a family centered program that provides educational services to families with deaf and hard of hearing children from infancy to three years of age. Services are also offered to deaf children with special needs, cochlear implants, and to hearing children with special communication needs who may benefit from a combined auditory/visual presentation of language.  The Beverly School for the Deaf serves students from birth to 22 years of age with special language, communication and learning needs.

The Massachusetts State Grange Deaf and Hearing Awareness Hearing Aid Fund helps Grange members who have purchased a hearing aid in the past year.  The amount actually reimbursed depends upon how much is donated by Granges to the fund for the year, and how many Grange members apply for reimbursement.  Only members (including Juniors) in good standing on the date of application will be eligible for reimbursement of up to $200 per hearing aid per year.  A copy of the bill and a personal letter in which the applicant sets forth his/her own request for the award must be sent to the State Deaf Awareness Specialists by June 30.  Reimbursement checks are processed only once per year in September.