SB 963 Summary

• Requires health insurance policies issued or renewed after December 31, 2015 to cover hearing aids for policyholders and covered individuals, excluding limited benefit plans.

• Establishes minimum coverage of $1,500 per hearing-impaired ear every thirty-six months for hearing aid purchases.

• Allows policyholders to choose hearing aids priced higher than the benefit amount without financial or contractual penalty to the hearing aid provider.

• Permits coverage to be subject to standard deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and annual or maximum payment limits consistent with other similar coverage.

• Requires insurers and mutual benefit societies to notify policyholders of hearing aid coverage by December 31, 2015, and applies coverage requirements to health maintenance organizations.