Growing up in Canada, I always believed our healthcare system would be there for me when I needed it most. However, I've found myself at a crossroads, frustrated by the system’s limitations. My job, thirty-eight years as a dedicated Music Teacher, has left me with deteriorating hearing. Now, I find myself needing hearing aids to continue to function in both my professional and personal life. Unfortunately, hearing aids, crucial for my day-to-day activities, are simply too expensive for me to afford.

This isn’t just my story; it’s the story of countless Canadians who, like me, find themselves in need of support that isn’t there. In Canada, hearing loss affects over 10% of the population. Despite being such a common health concern, hearing aids are not covered by the Canada Health Act, leaving countless individuals to shoulder the burden of these high costs without the assistance of provincial health insurance plans. This oversight needs urgent rectification.

High-quality hearing aids can cost between $2,000 to $9,000 per pair, making them unattainable for many, especially those on fixed incomes or living with low wages. For a country that prides itself on equitable healthcare access, this gap in coverage is unacceptable. Provinces such as Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario, with insurance plans like AHCIP, MSP, and OHIP, must step up and ensure hearing aids are included in their coverage.

Every individual deserves the right to hear their loved ones, thrive in their career, and engage fully in life. Providing coverage for hearing aids is not just an investment in individual Canadians' health but also in our community's wellbeing as a whole. By ensuring access to hearing aids through the Canada Health Act, each province can make a meaningful difference in the lives of their residents.

We request that the government include hearing aids as a mandatory benefit covered under the Canada Health Act and for each province to integrate this into their respective health insurance plans. Let's work together to create a Canada where hearing aids are accessible to anyone who needs them, without financial barriers.

Please join me in calling on the Canadian government and provincial health ministers to make hearing aids a covered benefit under our public healthcare system.

Marjorie Michel: hcminister.ministresc@hc-sc.gc.ca
Dr. Joss Reimer: CPHOCorrespondence@PHAC-ASPC.GC.CA
Adriana LaGrange: health.minister@gov.ab.ca
Ravi Kahlon: HLTH.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Uzoma Asagwara: minhsltc@manitoba.ca
John Dornan: John.Dornan@gnb.ca
Lela Evans: lelaevans@gov.nl.ca
Denny Rodgers: Denny_Rodgers@ntassembly.ca
Michelle Thompson: Health.Minister@novascotia.ca
Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster: jbrewster7@gov.nu.ca
Sylvia Jones: Sylvia.Jones@ontario.ca
Cory Deagle: cdeagleministerhw@gov.pe.ca
Sonia Bélanger: medias@msss.gouv.qc.ca
Jim Reiter: jimreitermla@sasktel.net
Brad Cathers: brad.cathers@yukon.ca

Sign this petition, email the Canadian health policy drivers above and ensure that Canadians with hearing loss get the support they truly deserve.