A 6132: Requires coverage for hearing aids for patients who are covered under a policy or contract of insurance if the hearing aids are fitted and dispensed by a licensed audiologist certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association following medical clearance by a physician licensed to practice medicine and an audiological evaluation.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6132 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY February 26, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES, BURDICK, SHRESTHA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to the mandatory coverage of hearing aids by insurers and other organizations The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is 2 amended by adding a new paragraph 41 to read as follows: 3 (41) (A) As used in this paragraph, "hearing aid" shall mean a medi- 4 cally-prescribed, non-disposable device that is of a design and circui- 5 try to optimize audition and listening skills. 6 (B) Every policy which provides hospital, medical or surgical coverage 7 shall provide coverage for hearing aids for patients if the hearing aids 8 are fitted and dispensed by a licensed audiologist certified by the 9 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association following medical clearance 10 by a physician licensed to practice medicine and an audiological evalu- 11 ation, provided an entity subject to this paragraph may limit the bene- 12 fit payable under this paragraph to five thousand dollars per hearing 13 aid for each hearing-impaired ear every twenty-four months. 14 (C) This paragraph does not prohibit an entity subject to the 15 provisions of this paragraph from providing coverage that is greater or 16 more favorable to an insured or enrolled. 17 § 2. Section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new 18 subsection (v) to read as follows: 19 (v) (1) As used in this subsection, "hearing aid" shall mean a medi- 20 cally-prescribed, non-disposable device that is of a design and circui- 21 try to optimize audition and listening. 22 (2) Every policy which provides hospital, medical or surgical coverage 23 shall provide coverage for hearing aids for patients if such hearing 24 aids are fitted and dispensed by a licensed audiologist certified by the 25 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, following medical clear- EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD10212-01-5 
 A. 6132 2 1 ance by a physician licensed to practice medicine, and an audiological 2 evaluation, provided an entity subject to this subsection may limit the 3 benefit payable under this subsection to five thousand dollars per hear- 4 ing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every twenty-four months. 5 (3) This subsection does not prohibit an entity subject to the 6 provisions of this subsection from providing coverage that is greater or 7 more favorable to an insured or enrolled individual. 8 § 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new 9 subsection (ww) to read as follows: 10 (ww) (1) As used in this subsection, "hearing aid" shall mean a medi- 11 cally-prescribed, non-disposable device that is of a design and circui- 12 try to optimize audition and listening. 13 (2) Every policy which provides hospital, medical or surgical coverage 14 shall provide coverage for hearing aids for patients if such hearing 15 aids are fitted and dispensed by a licensed audiologist certified by the 16 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, following medical clear- 17 ance by a physician licensed to practice medicine, and an audiological 18 evaluation, provided an entity subject to this subsection may limit the 19 benefit payable under this subsection to five thousand dollars per hear- 20 ing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every twenty-four months. 21 (3) This subsection does not prohibit an entity subject to the 22 provisions of this subsection from providing coverage that is greater or 23 more favorable to an insured or enrolled individual. 24 § 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed- 25 ing the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all 26 policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on 27 or after such date. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment 28 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation 29 of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and 30 completed on or before such date.