ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: HHS DPA 8-2-0-0

HB 2112: insurance coverage; hearing aids; children

Sponsor: Representative Willoughby, LD 13

House Engrossed

Overview

Requires a health care services organization that issues, amends, delivers or renews evidence of coverage to provide coverage for hearing aids.

History

A health care services organization is any person that undertakes to conduct one or more health care plans. Unless the context otherwise requires, health care services organizations includes a provider sponsored health care services organization (A.R.S. § 20-1051).

Hearing aids are used to improve the hearing and speech comprehension of people who have hearing loss (National Institute of Health).

Provisions

1.   Requires a health care services organization that issues, amends, delivers or renews evidence of coverage to provide coverage for a hearing aid and any related service for the full cost of one hearing aid per hearing impaired ear up to $2,200 every 36 months for an enrollee who is under 18 years old or 21 years old if the enrollee is still attending high school. ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note(Sec. 1)

2.   Allows an enrollee to choose a higher priced hearing aid and pay the difference in cost above the $2,200 limit without financial or contractual penalty to the enrollee or provider of the hearing aid. (Sec. 1)

3.   Allows a health care services organization to make available to the enrollee the option of purchasing additional hearing aid coverage that exceeds the described services. (Sec. 1)

4.   Requires hearing aid coverage to include fitting and dispensing services, providing ear molds as necessary to maintain optimal fit and any related services as provided by a licensed health care provider. (Sec. 1)

5.   Excludes short-term travel, accident-only, limited or limited benefit coverage from the hearing aid coverage requirements. (Sec. 1)

6.   Specifies that coverage for hearing aids may be subject to deductibles and coinsurance consistent with those imposed on other benefits under the same evidence of coverage. (Sec. 1)

7.   Defines terms. (Sec. 1)

8.   Applies these provisions to evidences of coverage issued with an effective date of December 31, 2024. (Sec. 2)

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12.                    HB 2112

13.  Initials AG           Page 0 House Engrossed

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