Bill Text: NY A10300 | 2015-2016 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Requires group health insurance policies offered in the large group market to provide coverage for hearing aids.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-05-20 - referred to insurance [A10300 Detail]

Download: New_York-2015-A10300-Introduced.html


                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          10300
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                      May 20, 2016
                                       ___________
        Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Insurance
        AN  ACT  to  amend  the  insurance law, in relation to requiring certain
          group health insurance policies to provide coverage for hearing aids
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section  1.  Section  3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a
     2  new subsection (t) to read as follows:
     3    (t) (1) Every group health insurance policy offered in the large group
     4  market that is issued, amended, or renewed in this state  shall  provide
     5  coverage  for  medically necessary hearing aids purchased from a hearing
     6  aid dispenser registered under article  thirty-seven-A  of  the  general
     7  business  law  or  an  audiologist  licensed  under  article one hundred
     8  fifty-nine of the education law in the following manner:
     9    (A) For an insured person sixteen years of age or older, such  insured
    10  person  shall  be  entitled  to  reimbursement  of  up to three thousand
    11  dollars every thirty-six months for expenses related to the purchase  of
    12  up to two hearing aids.
    13    (B)  For an insured person who is less than sixteen years of age, such
    14  insured person shall be entitled to reimbursement of up to two  thousand
    15  dollars every twenty-four months for expenses related to the purchase of
    16  up to two hearing aids, when it is medically demonstrated that:
    17    (i)  the  hearing  of  the insured person under the age of sixteen has
    18  changed significantly within a two-year period; and
    19    (ii) the existing hearing aid will no longer correct  the  hearing  of
    20  the  insured person under the age of sixteen; such person shall be enti-
    21  tled to reimbursement for additional hearing aid expenses.
    22    (2)(A) For the purposes of this subsection, "hearing aid"  shall  mean
    23  any  wearable  instrument  or device designed for hearing and any parts,
    24  attachments or accessories but excluding batteries and cords or accesso-
    25  ries thereto. A registered hearing aid dispenser or licensed audiologist
    26  shall determine the type of device needed to correct the hearing loss.
    27    (B) For the purposes of this section, services for recasing,  reshell-
    28  ing and acquiring new molds shall be included as part of the policies.
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD15482-02-6

        A. 10300                            2
     1    (3)  The  insured person may choose a hearing aid exceeding the amount
     2  of coverage required by this section and shall be liable for the differ-
     3  ence in cost. Reimbursement shall be provided according to  the  respec-
     4  tive  principles  and  policies  of  the  health  insurance plan and may
     5  include  such  policy  provisions as deductibles, coinsurance, allowable
     6  charge limitations, and coordination of benefits.
     7    § 2. Section 4305 of the insurance law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
     8  subsection (n) to read as follows:
     9    (n)  (1) A group contract issued, amended, or renewed pursuant to this
    10  section offered in the large group market  shall  provide  coverage  for
    11  medically  necessary hearing aids purchased from a hearing aid dispenser
    12  registered under article thirty-seven-A of the general business  law  or
    13  an  audiologist  licensed  under  article  one hundred fifty-nine of the
    14  education law in the following manner:
    15    (A) For an insured person sixteen years of age or older, such  insured
    16  person  shall  be  entitled  to  reimbursement  of  up to three thousand
    17  dollars every thirty-six months for expenses related to the purchase  of
    18  up to two hearing aids.
    19    (B)  For an insured person who is less than sixteen years of age, such
    20  insured person shall be entitled to reimbursement of up to two  thousand
    21  dollars every twenty-four months for expenses related to the purchase of
    22  up to two hearing aids, when it is medically demonstrated that:
    23    (i)  the  hearing  of  the insured person under the age of sixteen has
    24  changed significantly within a two-year period; and
    25    (ii) the existing hearing aid will no longer correct  the  hearing  of
    26  the  insured person under the age of sixteen; such person shall be enti-
    27  tled to reimbursement for additional hearing aid expenses.
    28    (2)(A) For the purposes of this subsection, "hearing aid"  shall  mean
    29  any  wearable  instrument  or device designed for hearing and any parts,
    30  attachments or accessories but excluding batteries and cords or accesso-
    31  ries thereto. A registered hearing aid dispenser or licensed audiologist
    32  shall determine the type of device needed to correct the hearing loss.
    33    (B) For the purposes of this section, services for recasing,  reshell-
    34  ing and acquiring new molds shall be included as part of the policies.
    35    (3)  The  insured person may choose a hearing aid exceeding the amount
    36  of coverage required by this section and shall be liable for the differ-
    37  ence in cost. Reimbursement shall be provided according to  the  respec-
    38  tive  principles  and  policies  of  the  health  insurance plan and may
    39  include such policy provisions as  deductibles,  coinsurance,  allowable
    40  charge limitations, and coordination of benefits.
    41    §  3.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
    42  have become a law and shall apply according to its terms  to  all  poli-
    43  cies,  contracts  and certificates issued, renewed, modified, altered or
    44  amended on or after such date.
feedback