Birth to 18 years
18-21 years if attending high school
Every three
years
Hearing aids and related services
New Mexico
SB529 signed
into law July 1 2007, mandating health insurance coverage
for testing and dispensing HAs to children. Every three
years coverage for hearing aids and related services
for children from birth to age 18 and for children ages 18-21
who are still attending high school.
Louisiana
22.215.25 requires
any new health insurance policy after January 1, 2004, and
any existing policy on or before its renewal date but no
later than January 1, 2005, to cover hearing aids for children
under 18 years of age if the aids are fitted and dispensed
by a licensed audiologist or hearing aid specialist. Benefits may be limited to $1,400 per
ear with hearing loss every 36 months. An insuree may
purchase a more expensive hearing aid and pay the difference
to the hearing aid provider.
Maryland
MD Insurance Code Ann.. §15-838 Requires insurers to
provide coverage for hearing aids for a minor child if the
hearing aids are prescribed, fitted, and dispensed by a licensed
audiologist; coverage may be limited to $1,400 per hearing
aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months; insured
may choose a more expensive hearing aid and pay the difference.
Minnesota
Minn. Stat. 62Q.675. Requires coverage of hearing aids for
children 18 years of age or younger if hearing loss is congenital
and not correctable by other procedures covered in the policy,
e.g., surgery; coverage limited to one hearing aid
per affected ear every three years; may impose co-payment,
co-insurance, or other limitations only if similar limitations
apply to other coverages under the plan. Effective for policies
issued on or after August 1, 2003.
Missouri
:§376.1220 R.S. Mo.Requires health
insurance and Medicaid coverage for infant hear screening,
re-screening (if necessary), audiological assessment and
follow-up, and initial amplification, including hearing aids.
Oklahoma
36 Okl. .St. §6060.7Effective
November 1, 2002, requires any group health insurance or
health benefit plan to provide coverage for audiological
services and hearing aids for children up to 18 years of
age; adds requirement of hearing aid prescription and dispensing
by a licensed audiologist; allows hearing aid benefit every
48 months without a dollar limit.
Rhode Island
After January 1, 2006, requires every individual or group
health insurance contract and hospital or medical expense
insurance policy to provide $400 coverage per hearing aid
per ear every three years for children and adults; the
insurer may choose the provider of hearing aids with which
to contract; the contract or policy shall also provide, as
an optional rider, additional coverage for hearing aids.
Kentucky
KRS 304.17.A-132 Requires health benefit plans, including
those provided to state employees or their dependents, to
cover the cost of a hearing aid for each ear, as needed,
as well as related services necessary to assess, select,
and fit the hearing aid; payment capped at $1400 per hearing
aid every 36 months; insured able to choose a higher price
hearing aid and pay the difference in cost; hearing aid must
be prescribed by a licensed audiologist and dispensed by
a licensed audiologist or hearing instrument specialist.
Connecticut
Conn.Gen. Statute 38a-490b and 38a-516b. Requires, after
October 1, 2001, individual and group health insurance policies
to provide coverage for hearing aids for children 12 years
old or younger; classifies hearing aids as durable medical
equipment and allows policies to limit the benefit to $1,000
every 24 months.
HEARING AID DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM Georgia
House Bill 655 established a Hearing Aid Distribution Program.
Funded by the TRS
- Income may not exceed 200% federal poverty guideline
- GA resident at least one year
- Recommended by licensed audiologist
- 18 or older. GA Medicaid covers children up to 18
- Sign agreement (covering maintenance and repair issues)
