Health care coverage: hearing aids.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Passed
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill, the Let California Kids Hear Act, aims to improve health care coverage for hearing aids for children under 21 in California. It requires large group health care service plans and health insurance policies to cover hearing aids, up to a maximum of $3,000 per hearing aid, and to provide annual hearing exams and new hearing aids every three years. The bill also expands the definition of ‘gravely disabled’ under the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act to include chronic alcoholism, and clarifies coverage for hearing aids within existing Medi-Cal plans.
Key provisions
- Requires large group health care service plans and health insurance policies to cover hearing aids for enrollees and insureds under 21.
- Sets a maximum coverage amount of $3,000 per individual hearing aid.
- Mandates annual hearing exams and new hearing aids every three years.
- Expands the definition of ‘gravely disabled’ to include chronic alcoholism.
- Includes pediatric audiologists as contracted providers for children under five.
- Specifies that hearing aids covered under the bill are not subject to deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments.
- Clarifies coverage for hearing aids in Medi-Cal managed care plans.
- Provides that no reimbursement is required for a local agency or school district for costs incurred due to the act’s provisions.
Who is affected
- Children under 21
- Health care service plans
Bill text
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