S.B. 609 Summary

• Requires health insurance policies and contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 to provide coverage for hearing aids for policyholders and covered individuals.

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

• Allows covered individuals to choose hearing aids priced higher than the benefit amount without financial or contractual penalties to hearing aid providers.

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

• Applies to accident and health insurance policies, hospital and medical service plan contracts, and health maintenance organizations; requires insurers to include information about hearing aid coverage in communications and on websites.