SB 705 - This act mandates insurance coverage for children's hearing aids to the age of 19. This mandated coverage will be required in all health policies issued or renewed after January 1, 2005. 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 three years.

A health insurer or health benefit plan subject to this mandate may not limit the benefits payable for hearing aids to less than $1,250 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.

This act is identical to SCS SB 274 (2003).
STEPHEN WITTE