Strategies for Enacting a Hearing Aid Tax Credit
By Joan Cassidy
Part One
All politics are local. Members of Congress want to hear from their
constituents on issues of importance.
Communication tips:
Courtesy is appreciated. Be honest in your discussions. Do your
homework and know the facts. Share your personal story, show that impact
on lives is more important than cost. Be brief, limit call or letter to
one or two issues.
Understand that Congressional staff members are critical. They make
policy recommendations. Staff are young but powerful, can make or break
legislation. Websites give current staff names.
Getting in touch:
Letters can take up to two weeks because of special security checks.
You may get a form letter in reply so follow up with phone call saying,
"You didn't tell me how you feel about the bill."
Emails are popular, but they receive massive amounts, so better to
direct emails directly to the staff person in charge of health care
issues. Put "constituent" on the subject line so they know
it's coming from a voter. Send emails on Wednesday and Thursday - less
email received those days. Keep email short, give your mailing address.
Best way to get in touch is by fax. Use a letterhead on your fax (can
just be your home address) and send it directly to staff member for
Health care issues.
When calling, you can reach members through the Capitol Switchboard
202-224-3121. Ask for Health Care assistant. Follow up conversation with
thank you note.
Meeting with Congress:
Make an appointment through the Scheduler. Arrive on time, be
prepared, be clear and include personal testimony. Send thank you after
your meeting - very important.
August Recess is good time to meet in the District/State office. Fax
a meeting request to the scheduler with suggested dates and times -
indicate flexibility. Identify issues that you would like to discuss and
why they are important to you.
Contact SHHH National if you need more information before you call or
visit.
Questions from audience:
Q. Why is Gallaudet not included on list of supporting organizations?
A. Because it is a university and receives Federal funding
Q. Does AARP support the legislation?
A. No. They have a policy that they will not support non-refundable tax
credits. They will not support any tax legislation that is not income
based. They want a fiscal cap on cost. This credit would apply to
everyone regardless of income level.
Q. Can we learn lessons from the fight to get insurance coverage for
cochlear implants?
A. Implants are a surgical procedure so most insurance will cover them.
There is no Cochlear Implant exclusion in Medicare like there is for
hearing aids. Also implants are low incidence with only 85,000
worldwide. Hearing aid population is huge - 20 million in US alone.
Q. Uncorrected hearing loss leads to lower wages and less taxes.
A. Good point especially for children who have a whole lifetime ahead.
Q. If you claim the hearing aid tax credit, can you claim the rest of
the cost as a medical expense on your tax form?
A. Yes. If the aid cost $1,500 you can take the $500 tax credit and
itemize the remaining $1,000 as a medical expense in the same tax year.
Q. If 30% of hearing aids end up in dresser drawers, why should
taxpayers subsidize the hearing aid industry?
A. Better services needed to make sure the hearing aids work for that
person. More satisfaction with newer hearing aids.
Q. Why are co-sponsors for the bills so important? Can't a member
just say he supports the bill?
A. Co-sponsorship shows political support and strength of support - like
getting a ride on a train leaving the station.
Q. Any likely vehicles for this tax credit?
A. Outlook for this year is not looking good, but we need to be ready.
Q. How many co-sponsors are needed to get bill to floor?
A. 100 in the House and 20 in the Senate will make it a viable bill. Key
people on House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee
are very important. Committees get together and make decisions. This
legislation is bi-partisan and has support on both sides.
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(c)2005 by Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of
Hearing Persons (NVRC), www.nvrc.org. When sharing this information,
please ensure credit is given to NVRC.
