Chapter 595

2006 -- H 8254

Enacted 07/14/06

A N A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE - HEARING AIDS

Introduced By: Representatives Jacquard, Handy, and Naughton

Date Introduced: June 19, 2006

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 27-18-60 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-18 entitled "Accident

and Sickness Insurance Policies" is hereby amended to read as follows:

27-18-60. Hearing aids. [Effective January 1, 2006.] -- (a) (1) Every individual or

group health insurance contract, or every individual or group hospital or medical expense

insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on

or after January 1, 2006, shall provide coverage for ~~four hundred~~ one thousand five hundred

dollars ~~($400)~~ ($1,500) per individual hearing aid, per ear, every three (3) years. for anyone under

the age of nineteen (19) years, and shall provide coverage for seven hundred dollars ($700) per

individual hearing aid, per ear, every three (3) years for anyone of the age of nineteen (19) years

and older.

(2) Every group health insurance contract or group hospital or medical expense

insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on

or after January 1, 2006, shall provide, as an optional rider, additional hearing aid coverage.

Provided, the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to contracts, plans, or group policies

subject to the small employer health insurance availability act, chapter 50 of this title.

(b) For the purposes of this section:

(1) "Hearing aid" means any nonexperimental, wearable instrument or device designed

for the ear and offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing, but

excluding batteries, cords, and other assistive listening devices, including, but not limited to FM

systems.

provider of hearing aids with which they choose to contract. Reimbursement shall be provided

according to the respective principles and policies of the accident and sickness insurer. Nothing

contained in this section precludes the accident and sickness insurer from conducting managed

care, medical necessity, or utilization review.

(d) This section does not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for: (1) hospital

confinement indemnity; (2) disability income; (3) accident only; (4) long term care; (5) Medicare

supplement; (6) limited benefit health; (7) specified diseased indemnity; (8) sickness of bodily

injury or death by accident or both; (9) and other limited benefit policies.

SECTION 2. Section 27-19-51 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-19 entitled "Nonprofit

Hospital Service Corporations" is hereby amended to read as follows:

27-19-51. Hearing aids. [Effective January 1, 2006.] -- (a) (1) Every individual or

group health insurance contract, or every individual or group hospital or medical expense

insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on

or after January 1, 2006, shall provide coverage for ~~four hundred~~ one thousand five hundred

dollars ~~($400)~~ ($1,500) per individual hearing aid, per ear, every three (3) years. for anyone under

the age of nineteen (19) years, and shall provide coverage for seven hundred dollars ($700) per

individual hearing aid per ear, every three (3) years for anyone of the age of nineteen (19) years

and older.

(2) Every group health insurance contract or group hospital or medical expense

insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on

or after January 1, 2006, shall provide, as an optional rider, additional hearing aid coverage.

Provided, the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to contracts, plans, or group policies

subject to the small employer health insurance availability act, chapter 50 of this title.

(b) For the purposes of this section, "hearing aid" means any nonexperimental, wearable

instrument or device designed for the ear and offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating

for impaired human hearing, but excluding batteries, cords, and other assistive listening devices,

including, but not limited to, FM systems.

as to the provider of hearing aids with which they choose to contract. Reimbursement shall be

provided according to the respective principles and policies of the nonprofit hospital service

corporation. Nothing contained in this section precludes the nonprofit hospital service corporation

from conducting managed care, medical necessity, or utilization review.

SECTION 3. Section 27-20-46 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-20 entitled "Nonprofit

Medical Service Corporations" is hereby amended to read as follows:

27-20-46. Hearing aids. [Effective January 1, 2006.] -- (a) (1) Every individual or