Report Title:

Hearing Aids; Health Insurance Coverage

Description:

Requires health insurance coverage for services and hearing aids under Chapter 451A, HRS, relating to hearing aid dealers and fitters.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

952

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENTS.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 431:10A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§431:10A-   Coverage for hearing aids. (a) Each policy of accident and sickness insurance providing coverage for health care, excluding an accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care, or other limited benefit health insurance policy, that is issued or renewed in this State, shall provide coverage for hearing aids and the services rendered by a hearing aid dealer or fitter licensed under chapter 451A.

(b) Subsection (a) shall not affect or limit in any manner any insurance limit or insurance cap on coverages, whether a lifetime or annual limit or cap, for children that receive early intervention services under section 351-352."

SECTION 2. Chapter 432:1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§432:1-   Coverage for hearing aids. (a) All group health care contracts under this chapter shall provide, to the extent provided under section 431:10A-  , coverage for hearing aids and the services rendered by hearing aid dealers and fitters licensed under chapter 451A.

(b) Subsection (a) shall not affect or limit in any manner any insurance limit or insurance cap on coverages, whether a lifetime or annual limit or cap, for children that receive early intervention services under section 351-352."

SECTION 3. Section 432D-23, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§432D-23 Required provisions and benefits. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, each policy, contract, plan, or agreement issued in the State after January 1, 1995, by health maintenance organizations pursuant to this chapter, shall include benefits provided in sections 431:10-212, 431:10A-115, 431:10A-115.5, 431:10A-116, 431:10A-116.5, 431:10A-116.6, 431:10A-119, 431:10A-120, [and], 431:10A-121, and 431-10A-  , and chapter 431M."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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