Sec. 4. 24-A MRSA §4252 is enacted to read:

§4252.__Coverage for hearing aids

1.__Required coverage.__All health maintenance organization individual and group health policies, contracts and certificates must provide coverage for the purchase of a hearing aid for each ear from an audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 77 or a hearing aid dealer licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 23-A for a person 21 years of age or under whose hearing loss has been documented by a physician or licensed audiologist.__For purposes of this section, "hearing aid" means any nonexperimental, wearable instrument or device designed for the ear and offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing, excluding batteries and cords and other assistive listening devices, including, but not limited to, frequency modulation systems.

2.__Limits; coinsurance; deductibles.__Any policy, contract or certificate that provides coverage for services under this section may contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements of this section.

Sec. 5. Application. The requirements of this Act apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2006. For purposes of this Act, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

SUMMARY

This bill requires health insurance policies, contracts and certificates to provide coverage for hearing aids for persons 21 years of age and under. The provisions apply to all policies, contracts and certificates issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2006.