Bill > H5218

This bill increases insurance coverage for hearing aids across multiple types of health insurance providers, including individual and group health insurance contracts, hospital and medical expense insurance policies, and health maintenance organizations. Specifically, the bill raises the maximum coverage amount for hearing aids from $1,500 to $1,750 per ear, and removes the previous age-based restrictions that limited coverage differently for individuals under and over 19 years old. The bill applies to insurance contracts delivered, issued, or renewed in the state on or after January 1, 2026, and maintains the definition of a hearing aid as a non-experimental, wearable device designed to aid or compensate for impaired hearing, excluding batteries, cords, and other assistive listening devices. Insurance providers retain the discretion to choose hearing aid providers and conduct managed care, medical necessity, or utilization reviews, and the changes will not apply to small employer health insurance plans. The legislation affects four different sections of the state's insurance laws and will take effect immediately upon passage.

Health and Social Services

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