HP0148
LD 192
Session - 128th Maine Legislature
 
LR 359
Item 1
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

An Act To Require Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aids

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §2762, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 2015, c. 494, Pt. A, §28, is further amended to read:

2. Required coverage.   In accordance with the application of coverage set forth in subsection 3, all All individual health policies and contracts must provide coverage for the purchase of a hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear for an individual covered under the policy or contract in accordance with the following requirements.
A. The hearing loss must be documented by a physician or audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 137.
B. The hearing aid must be purchased from an audiologist or hearing aid dealer licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 137.
C. The policy or contract may limit coverage to $1,400 $3,000 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months.

Sec. 2. 24-A MRSA §2762, sub-§3,  as enacted by PL 2007, c. 452, §2, is repealed.

Sec. 3. 24-A MRSA §2847-O, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 2015, c. 494, Pt. A, §29, is further amended to read:

2. Required coverage.   In accordance with the application of coverage set forth in subsection 3, all All group health insurance policies, contracts and certificates must provide coverage for the purchase of a hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear for an individual covered under the policy, contract or certificate who is 18 years of age or under in accordance with the following requirements.
A. The hearing loss must be documented by a physician or audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 137.
B. The hearing aid must be purchased from an audiologist or hearing aid dealer licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 137.
C. The policy, contract or certificate may limit coverage to $1,400 $3,000 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months.

Sec. 4. 24-A MRSA §2847-O, sub-§3,  as reallocated by PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. A, §29, is repealed.

Sec. 5. 24-A MRSA §4255, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 2015, c. 494, Pt. A, §30, is further amended to read:

2. Required coverage.   In accordance with the application of coverage set forth in subsection 3, all All health maintenance organization individual and group health insurance contracts must provide coverage for the purchase of a hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear for an individual covered under the policy, contract or certificate who is 18 years of age or under in accordance with the following requirements.
A. The hearing loss must be documented by a physician or audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 137.
B. The hearing aid must be purchased from an audiologist or hearing aid dealer licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 137.
C. The policy, contract or certificate may limit coverage to $1,400 $3,000 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months.

Sec. 6. 24-A MRSA §4255, sub-§3,  as reallocated by PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. A, §30, is repealed.

summary

This bill requires insurance plans to provide coverage for hearing aids at a minimum of $3,000 per hearing aid to all individuals with documented hearing loss.


Top of Page