What's happening
This bill requires all health insurance policies in New York to cover hearing aids and related services, with set reimbursement limits and no out-of-pocket costs.
Why it matters
Makes hearing aids and key related services (like recasing, reshelling, and new molds) fully covered benefits for all insured New Yorkers, reducing financial barriers for those with hearing loss.
Sets age-based reimbursement limits ($3,000 per aid every 4 years for adults; $3,000 per aid every 2 years for children, with flexibility for children whose hearing changes), ensuring more frequent support for children’s evolving needs.
Requires that only registered dispensers or licensed audiologists determine the type of hearing aid needed, aiming to ensure professional and appropriate care rather than generic or one-size-fits-all solutions.
Prohibits insurers from imposing deductibles, coinsurance, or copays on these benefits, meaning patients will not have any out-of-pocket costs, which could especially benefit lower-income and fixed-income individuals.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Hearing Aid Coverage
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Hearing Aid Coverage
In Assembly Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4742
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 27, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GOLDEN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to providing coverage for hearing aids
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 34 to read as follows:
(34) (A) Every health insurance policy issued or delivered in this state shall provide coverage for hearing aids purchased from hearing aid dispensers registered under article thirty-seven-A of the general business law or audiologists licensed under article one hundred fifty-nine of the education law in the following manner:
(i) for an insured person who is sixteen years of age or older, such insured person shall be entitled to reimbursement of up to three thousand dollars every four years for expenses related to the purchase of each hearing aid.
(ii) for an insured person who is less than sixteen years of age, such insured person shall be entitled to reimbursement of up to three thousand dollars every two years for expenses related to the purchase of each hearing aid. When it is demonstrated that (1) the insured child's hearing has changed significantly within a two year period and (2) the existing hearing aid will no longer correct the child's hearing loss, such insured person shall be entitled to reimbursement for additional hearing aid expenses.
(B)(i) For the purposes of this paragraph "hearing aid" shall mean any wearable instrument or devices designed for hearing and any parts, attachments or accessories but excluding batteries and cords or accessories thereto. A registered hearing aid dispenser or licensed audiologist shall determine the type of device needed to correct the hearing loss.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04953-01-7
S. 4742 2
(ii) For the purposes of this section, services for recasing, reshelling and acquiring new molds shall be included as part of the policies.
(C) Coverage provided pursuant to this paragraph shall not be subject to deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments.
§ 2. Section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (t) to read as follows:
(t) (1) Every group health insurance policy issued or delivered in this state shall provide coverage for hearing aids purchased from hearing aid dispensers registered under article thirty-seven-A of the general business law or audiologists licensed under article one hundred fifty-nine of the education law in the following manner:
(A) for an insured person who is sixteen years of age or older, such insured person shall be entitled to reimbursement of up to three thousand dollars every four years for expenses related to the purchase of each hearing aid.
(B) for an insured person who is less than sixteen years of age, such insured person shall be entitled to reimbursement of up to three thousand dollars every two years for expenses related to the purchase of each hearing aid. When it is demonstrated that (i) the insured child's hearing has changed significantly within a two year period and (ii) the existing hearing aid will no longer correct the child's hearing loss, such insured person shall be entitled to reimbursement for additional hearing aid expenses.
(2)(A) For the purposes of this subsection, "hearing aid" shall mean any wearable instrument or devices designed for hearing and any parts, attachments or accessories but excluding batteries and cords or accessories thereto. A registered hearing aid dispenser or licensed audiologist shall determine the type of device needed to correct the hearing loss.
(B) For the purposes of this section, services for recasing, reshelling and acquiring new molds shall be included as part of the policies.
(3) Coverage provided pursuant to this subsection shall not be subject to deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments.
§ 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (oo) to read as follows:
(oo) (1) Every contract issued or delivered in this state by a health service corporation or hospital service corporation shall provide coverage for hearing aids purchased from hearing aid dispensers registered under article thirty-seven-A of the general business law or audiologists licensed under article one hundred fifty-nine of the education law in the following manner:
(A) for an insured person who is sixteen years of age or older, such insured person shall be entitled to reimbursement of up to three thousand dollars every four years for expenses related to the purchase of each hearing aid.
(B) for an insured person who is less than sixteen years of age, such insured person shall be entitled to reimbursement of up to three thousand dollars every two years for expenses related to the purchase of each hearing aid. When it is demonstrated that (i) the insured child's hearing has changed significantly within a two year period and (ii) the existing hearing aid will no longer correct the child's hearing loss, such insured person shall be entitled to reimbursement for additional hearing aid expenses.
(2)(A) For the purposes of this subsection, "hearing aid" shall mean any wearable instrument or devices designed for hearing and any parts, attachments or accessories but excluding batteries and cords or accesso-
S. 4742 3
ries thereto. A registered hearing aid dispenser or licensed audiologist shall determine the type of device needed to correct the hearing loss.
(B) For the purposes of this section, services for recasing, reshelling and acquiring new molds shall be included as part of the policies.
(3) Coverage provided pursuant to this subsection shall not be subject to deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all policies issued, modified or renewed on and after such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to providing coverage for hearing aids
Purpose
This bill requires all insurance policies to provide a certain amount of coverage for hearing aids.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is by adding a new paragraph 32.
Section two amends Section 3221 of the insurance law by adding a new subsection (t).
Section three amends Section 4303 of the insurance law by adding a new subsection (oo).
Section four sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Hearing loss is America's most pervasive physical disability, with more than 28 million hard of hearing people in the United States. Estimates indicate that one in 10 people suffer some level of hearing loss. While the largest concentration of those with impaired hearing are over the age of 65 (one in three), increasingly more people are suffering hearing loss at increasingly younger ages. Studies have found that people who have significant difficulty communicating perform at a lower academic level, are often underemployed and are more susceptible to emotional and physical disorders.
As a necessary tool in assisting the hearing-impaired to better communicate, hearing aids serve a vital role in our society. Not only do they have the potential to positively impact 28 million Americans economically, mentally, psychologically and physically, but they also serve to relieve long-term burdens on our governmental institutions, health care systems and economy. Hearing aids help young children who need to acquire listening skills in order to develop spoken language; students who, within a school environment, will be better equipped to achieve their greatest potential through education; those in the workplace who need to maintain their connection to their associates; and the elderly who benefit from interaction and socialization with others through spoken communication.
While the cost of just one hearing aid can range from $1,000 to $4,500, many insurance companies in New York State do not currently provide coverage for the purchase of them. As a result, too many New Yorkers who need hearing aids simply cannot afford them and go without. By requiring insurance coverage for hearing aids, this bill would provide all New Yorkers with access to these critically important devices.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This bill shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all policies issued, modified or renewed on and after such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.