summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
02/03/2026
02/03/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to create the Hearing Care Plan Contracts Article. Provides that no hearing care organization that issues, delivers, amends, or renews a hearing care plan on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall issue a contract that requires a hearing instrument professional, as a condition of participation in the hearing care plan, to provide items or services to an enrollee at a fee set by the hearing care plan unless the items and services are covered items or covered services under the hearing care plan. Exempts de minimis reimbursements. Establishes notice and disclosure provisions for a hearing instrument professional who chooses not to accept as payment an amount set by a hearing care plan for items and services that are not covered and other hearing care plan contract requirements. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2027, to conduct business in the State, a hearing care organization must register with the Department of Insurance and submit the specified registration materials. Requires the registrant to report any specified change in information to the Department in writing within 60 days after the change occurs. Sets forth provisions concerning issuance and expiration of a registration certificate. Grants the Department of Insurance rulemaking authority over the registration provisions. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make it an unlawful practice under the meaning of the Act for any person to violate the Hearing Plan Contracts Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Effective January 1, 2027.
AI Summary
This bill establishes new regulations for hearing care plans in Illinois, effective January 1, 2027, by creating a Hearing Care Plan Contracts Article within the Illinois Insurance Code and amending the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Key provisions include prohibiting hearing care organizations from requiring hearing instrument professionals (licensed audiologists, hearing instrument dispensers, or physicians) to accept fees set by the plan for services or items not covered by the plan, unless those items and services are indeed covered benefits. The bill also mandates that hearing instrument professionals clearly disclose to enrollees when they will charge their own fees for non-covered services or items, referencing the "No Surprises Act" for cost estimations. Furthermore, hearing care organizations must clearly communicate hearing care benefits, including any copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles, and distinguish between "funded" (paid for by the organization) and "discount or unfunded" benefits in their marketing and plan documents. Beginning January 1, 2027, all hearing care organizations must register with the Department of Insurance, pay a fee, and submit corporate documents, with ongoing reporting requirements for any changes in information, and their registration certificates will be valid for two years. Violating these new hearing care plan contract rules will be considered an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Assigned to Insurance (on 02/03/2026)
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