HI HB613

Requires all individual and group health insurance policies issued or renewed after December 31, 2018 to provide coverage for hearing aids at a minimum benefit of $1,500 per hearing-impaired ear every 36 months.

Applies to accident and health policies, hospital or medical service plan contracts, and health maintenance organizations, excluding accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care, dental, vision, and limited benefit plans.

Allows policyholders to choose hearing aids priced higher than the benefit amount without financial or contractual penalty to the provider, and permits insurers to provide greater coverage than the minimum.

Coverage may be subject to standard deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and annual or maximum payment limits consistent with other similar coverage under the policy.

Requires insurers to notify policyholders in writing about the hearing aid coverage requirement by December 31, 2019, and defines "hearing aid" to include both conventional and bone conduction hearing aids.