NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A680
SPONSOR: Solages TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to the mandatory coverage
of hearing aids by insurers and other organizations
PURPOSE:
To require relevant commercial insurance plans to cover the cost of
hearing aids.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends section 3221 of the insurance law by adding a new
subsection (v). Section 2. Amends section 4303 of the insurance law by
adding a new subsection (ww). Section 3. Sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation requires insurance coverage for hearing aids by commer-
cial insurers. A 2017 survey by the Hearing Health Foundation, a group
that funds research and advocates for treatments and cures for hearing
loss, found that 40 percent of respondents had no hearing aid coverage
through health insurance. Currently, 13 states, including Colorado,
Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas require that health benefit plans pay for
hearing aids for children.
Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire and Rhode Island also
require health plans to pay for hearing aids, regardless of age. 19
states in total mandate the coverage of hearing aids in some form.
Studies provided by the Center for Hearing and Communication show that
hearing loss occurs in 5 out of every 1,000 newborns. Children ages 18
and under are subject to the greatest physical growth of their whole
life. Constant growth through puberty can leave families with outstand-
ing balances from purchasing hearing aids when they suffer from hearing
loss. Not only can the potential outstanding balances affect the chil-
dren in our community, but also can affect their education and future
success. The Center for Hearing and Communication has also shown that
mild hearing loss can cause a child to miss as much as 50% of classroom
discussion.
Additionally, providing prescription hearing aids to children stands to
save the state money in the long run. According to the 2017 Annual
Report on the Children's Hearing Aid Program, published by the Utah
Department of Health, "the provision of hearing aids in eligible young
children reduces the need for long term services. Research has shown
that the earlier a child can be fit with appropriate amplification, the
greater the potential for typical speech and language development,
social skills, academic achievement, and future vocational skills. Early
amplification and appropriate Early Intervention services save signif-
icant costs associated with special education services and the potential
need for long term services, thereby reducing financial burden on the
public."
This legislation will not only have enormous cost savings for New York
State, but it will also ensure that individuals and families do not have
to bear the large cost of hearing aids.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
TBD.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A149; referred to insurance.
2021-22: A5035B; referred to insurance
2019-20: A2325A; referred to Insurance
2018-19: A8628A; referred to Insurance
2017-18: A3409; referred to Insurance
2013-14: S.3503 referred to Economic Development
2009-12: S.2168/A.10133 - Referred to Economic Development This legis-
lation was initially introduced in 2006 as A.12047.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all policies
and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered, or amended on or after
such date. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal
of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act
on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or
before such date.
