What's happening
This bill requires large group health insurance policies in New York to cover hearing aids for people under 27, up to $2,500 per ear every 36 months.
Why it matters
Reduces out-of-pocket costs for families. by mandating insurance coverage of hearing aids for children and young adults under 27, addressing a significant financial barrier to accessing necessary hearing technology.
Expands access regardless of hearing aid type. by prohibiting insurers from denying coverage based on style, brand, or circuit type, allowing patients and audiologists to select the most appropriate devices for individual needs.
Standardizes and clarifies eligibility. by linking the definition of “hearing aid” to existing state law and requiring that devices be fitted and dispensed by registered professionals, supporting both quality assurance and patient safety.
Sets a floor, not a ceiling, for benefits. by allowing insurers to provide more generous coverage if they choose, potentially promoting competitive benefits among large group plans.
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Who cares
Insured people under 27 with hearing loss
The bill would require covered large-group policies to pay for hearing aids after a medical evaluation, while allowing a benefit cap of $2,500 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months.
Insurers and health coverage organizations issuing large-group policies
They would have to provide the required hearing aid coverage and could not limit or deny it based on a hearing aid’s style, brand or circuit type.
Audiologists and registered hearing aid dispensers
The bill would require coverage for hearing aids fitted and dispensed by qualified registered providers, including coverage for devices dispensed by in-network providers.
Headline styles
Require Hearing Aid Insurance Coverage
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Print number 680a
- Amend and recommit to insurance
- 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 Insurance for Hearing Aids
In Senate Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Roxanne J. Persaud
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
680--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES, STERN, COLTON, HUNTER, FORREST, STECK, JACOBSON, MEEKS, LAVINE, HEVESI, SHRESTHA, RAGA, BORES, CONRAD, RA, DeSTEFANO, McDONOUGH, K. BROWN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance -- recommitted to the Committee on Insurance in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to the mandatory coverage of hearing aids by insurers and other organizations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (w) to read as follows:
(w) (1) As used in this subsection, "hearing aid" shall have the same meaning and definition used in section seven hundred eighty-nine of the general business law.
(2) Every large group policy which provides major medical or comprehensive-type coverage shall include coverage for the cost of hearing aids when the insured has not attained the age of twenty-seven and has received a medical evaluation and such hearing aids are fitted and dispensed by an audiologist registered as a hearing aid dispenser or a registered hearing aid dispenser registered in accordance with article thirty-seven-A of the general business law, provided an entity subject to this subsection may limit the benefit payable under this subsection to two thousand five hundred dollars per hearing aid for each hearingimpaired ear every thirty-six months.
(3) This subsection does not prohibit an entity subject to the provisions of this subsection from providing coverage that is greater or more favorable to an insured or enrolled individual.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01662-04-6
(4) An entity subject to the provisions of this subsection shall provide coverage for the cost of hearing aids dispensed by an in-network audiologist registered as a hearing aid dispenser or a registered hearing aid dispenser and shall not limit or deny coverage of the cost of a hearing aid based on the style, brand, or circuit type of the hearing aid.
§ 2. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (yy) to read as follows:
(yy)(1) As used in this subsection, "hearing aid" shall have the same meaning and definition used in section seven hundred eighty-nine of the general business law.
(2) Every large group policy which provides medical, major medical or comprehensive-type coverage shall include coverage for the cost of hearing aids when the insured has not attained the age of twenty-seven and has received a medical evaluation and such hearing aids are fitted and dispensed by an audiologist registered as a hearing aid dispenser or a registered hearing aid dispenser registered in accordance with article thirty-seven-A of the general business law, provided an entity subject to this subsection may limit the benefit payable under this subsection to two thousand five hundred dollars per hearing aid for each hearingimpaired ear every thirty-six months.
(3) This subsection does not prohibit an entity subject to the provisions of this subsection from providing coverage that is greater or more favorable to an insured or enrolled individual.
(4) An entity subject to the provisions of this subsection shall provide coverage for the cost of hearing aids dispensed by any in-network audiologist registered as a hearing aid dispenser or a registered hearing aid dispenser and shall not limit or deny coverage of a hearing aid based on the style, brand, or circuit type of the hearing aid.
§ 3. 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 and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on or after such date. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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