SB 838 - This act mandates insurance coverage for children's hearing aids. This mandated coverage will be required in all health policies issued or renewed after January 1, 2003. The required coverage shall not be subject to greater deductibles or copayments that exceeds 20% of the actual covered service costs. Insurers are prohibited from requesting hearing acuity information from the insureds. The mandated coverage does not apply to certain types of policies such as supplemental insurance policies or specified disease policies. The act describes what type of hearing aids are covered. Policies subject to this act must provide replacement hearing aids for the child at least every 3 years. Hearing aids, prescriptions and consumable supplies must be reimbursed at the usual and customary charges of the licensed professionals. A health insurer or health benefit plan subject to this mandate may limit the benefits payable for hearing aids to $2,500 per hearing aid for each ear with a hearing loss. An insured may choose a hearing aid higher than the benefit payable and may pay the difference between the price of the hearing aid and the benefit payable.
STEPHEN WITTE