Why Add Speech, Language, and Hearing Benefits?
The ability to communicate is essential to learning, working and social interaction as well as to achieve and maintain independence. When communication is impaired, it affects every aspect of a person's life, including family and work interactions. The cost of providing speech, language, and hearing services for enrollees is so much less than NOT providing coverage!
Did you know...
- Nearly 50 million Americans have a speech, language, or hearing disorder?
- Approximately 30 million Americans have hearing loss and half of them are under the age of 50?
- Two out of every 10 children will have some type of speech or hearing disorder?
- 1 million Americans suffer brain damage each year from strokes, accidents, or brain tumors resulting in speaking and other communication disorders?
Ask yourself a few questions...
- What would your life be like if your ability to communicate with family and friends were impaired?
- Could you keep your job?
- What if you couldn't swallow food or liquids?
- What if your child was born with a hearing loss and needed rehabilitation and hearing aids, could you afford to pay out of pocket for such services?
The inclusion of these benefits can...
- Help avoid future claims for costly illnesses that are linked to untreated speech, language, and hearing disorders.
- Increase worker productivity and improve the employer's bottom line by minimizing the time an employee spends seeking services.
- Demonstrate to an employee that their employer recognizes the importance of communication in daily life, whether it is work-related or personal.
- Retain current and recruit new employees by offering a truly comprehensive health benefits package.
Although educational systems provide speech, language, and hearing services, they are available only to children who qualify under a very rigid set of federal regulations and state education laws. Furthermore, current caseloads in the schools are higher than recommended and supplemental services will reduce the time spent in rehabilitation.
By adding comprehensive coverage for speech, language, and hearing services, you will be able to reduce the cost of providing health care, maintain quality services, and increase employee's accessibility to providers.
