SYCAMORE TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKRC) - A 13-year-old is pleading with Ohio lawmakers to pass legislation to help families with children just like her. Alexis Klugo succeeded despite a lifelong disability. She is an eighth-grader at Sycamore Junior High School. The 13-year-old laughs with her friends and enjoys school, especially listening to her teachers.
Alexis was born with moderate hearing loss.
"I’ve had my hearing aids since I was 18 months old. I got them quite early, so I’ve never not been able to hear, and I’m fortunate for that,” Alexis said.
She knows not all families can afford the high cost to outfit their child with hearing devices as they grow, and it’s not covered by insurance in Ohio.
“When I was small, we called my hearing aids my "magic ears," and they truly are magic,” said Alexis.
That’s part of what she said in a passionate plea to Ohio lawmakers. Her mother, Karen Klugo, an ophthalmologist in Cincinnati, also spoke to push for change. They want House Bill 243 passed. It’ll require insurance companies to cover hearing aids and related services for people under 22 years old.
Karen said, “When Alexis was fitted with her first pair of hearing aids, I was shocked to learn that not one penny of the devices was covered by our insurance. In fact, any services associated with her hearing loss is not covered. These costs add up, and both children have required many audiology visits to fine-tune their hearing.”
Karen’s other child, her 11-year-old son Chase, was also fitted with hearing aids. He was just 3 weeks old. She says each audiology visit can cost $600 to $900, and a pair of hearing aids can be anywhere between $3,000 to $6,000.
Alexis says she hopes testifying before the House Health Committee had an impact, and she feels very grateful to come from a family that can afford to give her the lifesaving sense of hearing.
“They protect me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to hear a car if I was crossing the street," Alexis said.
The eighth-grader did have an excused absence to travel to Columbus for the day. In fact, she handed her principal a very special note. That note is from the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Allison Russo, who says she provided “wonderful testimony for important legislation.” Right now, that legislation has yet to be scheduled for a vote.
Twenty-four other states, including Kentucky, already have laws on the books requiring insurance companies to cover the expenses for a child to get help for hearing impairment.
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