Senate BillPassed both housesHealth and Safety
SB 331: Health care coverage: hearing aids.
What SB 331 does, verified September 14, 2026
The bill aims to amend existing laws related to substance abuse by expanding the definition of "gravely disabled" individuals. This includes those unable to provide for their basic needs due to chronic alcoholism. The bill also clarifies the definition of a "mental health disorder" as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The bill expands the scope of the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Act, allowing for voluntary or court-ordered care agreements and court-ordered care plans. These agreements and plans provide behavioral health services, including stabilization medication, housing, and other support services, to individuals with severe mental illness or substance use disorders. The bill also requires court-issued orders and notice to be given to the individual, their representatives, and supporters. Additionally, the bill expands the enti…
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Last action: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m. (2026-08-25)Alert me
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| Sep. 04, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m. |
| Aug. 28, 2026 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | From committee: That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) |
| Aug. 26, 2026 | From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on HEALTH pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH. |
| Aug. 26, 2026 | Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). |
Latest bill textEnrolled version, August 31, 2026 · 1,416 words
| Enrolled August 31, 2026 |
| Passed IN Senate August 28, 2026 |
| Passed IN Assembly August 25, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly August 19, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly June 01, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate May 23, 2025 |
| Amended IN Senate May 01, 2025 |
| Amended IN Senate April 10, 2025 |
| Amended IN Senate March 24, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 331
| Introduced by Senator Menjivar (Coauthors: Senators Becker, Dahle, and Niello) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bonta, Caloza, Jeff Gonzalez, Patel, and Schiavo) |
February 12, 2025 |
An act to add Section 1367.72 to the Health and Safety Code, and to add Section 10123.72 to the Insurance Code, relating to health care coverage.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 331, Menjivar. Health care coverage: hearing aids.
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires an individual or small group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to include, at a minimum, coverage for essential health benefits, as specified. Commencing January 1, 2027, if the United States Department of Health and Human Services approves a new essential health benefits benchmark plan for the state, existing law requires essential health benefits to include an annual hearing exam and one hearing aid per ear every three years.
This bill, the Let California Kids Hear Act, would require a large group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2028, to include coverage for hearing aids, as defined, and related services for enrollees and insureds under 21 years of age, if medically necessary. The bill would authorize a large group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to limit the dollar coverage for each individual hearing aid device to $3,000, as specified. Because a willful violation of these requirements by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Let California Kids Hear Act.SEC. 2.
Section 1367.72 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1367.72.
(a) A large group health care service plan contract issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2028, shall include coverage for hearing aids and related services for enrollees under 21 years of age, if medically necessary. The large group health care service plan contract shall cover services provided by a qualified audiologist with experience with children when medically necessary, consistent with this chapter.(b) (1) A large group health care service plan contract may limit the dollar coverage for each individual hearing aid device to three thousand dollars ($3,000). An enrollee may choose to purchase a hearing aid that exceeds this limit and shall be responsible for the difference between the cost of the hearing aid and this limit.
(2) Hearing aids covered pursuant to this section shall not be subject to a deductible, and coinsurance shall be capped at 10 percent. Coverage of hearing aids under this section shall not be subject to any other financial or treatment limitations, except as authorized under this section. This section shall not be construed to prohibit a large group health care service plan from requiring use of a network provider consistent with the terms and conditions of the large group health care service plan contract and this chapter.
(3) If a contract is a “high deductible health plan” under the definition set forth in Section 223(c)(2) of Title 26 of the United States Code, the contract shall not impose cost sharing except as described in paragraph (2), unless not applying cost sharing would conflict with federal requirements for high deductible health plans.
(4) Coverage includes all of the following:
(A) Necessary assessments.
(B) New hearing aids at least once every three years and more frequently if the existing hearing aids are no longer working or the existing hearing aids no longer meet the medical needs of the enrollee and cannot be altered or adjusted to meet the needs of the enrollee.
(C) New earmolds, fittings, adjustments, auditory training, and maintenance of the hearing aids.
(c) For purposes of this section, “hearing aid” means an electronic device designed to aid or compensate for impaired human hearing and any parts, attachments, or accessories, including earmolds, but excluding batteries and cords. This includes both hearing aids traditionally worn behind the ear and nonimplanted auditory osseointegrated devices.
(d) (1) This section does not apply to a Medicare policy or specialized health care service plan contract.
(2) This section does not apply to Medi-Cal managed care plans that contract with the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of, and Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200) of, Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. For these plans, the Medi-Cal requirements imposed pursuant to subdivision (l) of Section 14132 of the Welfare and Institutions Code apply.
SEC. 3.
Section 10123.72 is added to the Insurance Code, to read:10123.72.
(a) A large group health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2028, shall include coverage for hearing aids and related services for all insureds under 21 years of age, if medically necessary. Health insurers shall cover services provided by a qualified audiologist with experience with children when medically necessary, consistent with this chapter.(b) (1) A large group health insurance policy may limit the dollar coverage for each individual hearing aid device to three thousand dollars ($3,000). An insured may choose to purchase a hearing aid that exceeds this limit and shall be responsible for the difference between the cost of the hearing aid and this limit.
(2) Hearing aids covered pursuant to this section shall not be subject to a deductible, and coinsurance shall be capped at 10 percent. Coverage of hearing aids under this section shall not be subject to any other financial or treatment limitations, except as authorized under this section. This section shall not be construed to prohibit a health insurer from requiring use of a network provider consistent with the terms and conditions of the policy and this chapter.
(3) If a health insurance policy is a “high deductible health plan” under the definition set forth in Section 223(c)(2) of Title 26 of the United States Code, the policy shall not impose cost sharing except as described in paragraph (2), unless not applying cost sharing would conflict with federal requirements for high deductible health plans.
(4) Coverage includes all of the following:
(A) Necessary assessments.
(B) New hearing aids at least once every three years and more frequently if the existing hearing aids are no longer working or the existing hearing aids no longer meet the medical needs of the insured and cannot be altered or adjusted to meet the needs of the insured.
(C) New earmolds, fittings, adjustments, auditory training, and maintenance of the hearing aids.
(c) For purposes of this section, “hearing aid” means an electronic device designed to aid or compensate for impaired human hearing and any parts, attachments, or accessories, including earmolds, but excluding batteries and cords. This includes both hearing aids traditionally worn behind the ear and nonimplanted auditory osseointegrated devices.
(d) This section does not apply to a specialized health insurance policy or a Medicare supplemental policy.
SEC. 4.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.Text of SB 331 as enrolled, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions