An Act To Require Health Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aids for Adults
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0523
Committee: Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: VALENTINO, BECK, CAIN, GRATWICK, LACHOWICZ, BOLAND, MAKER
Amends: 24-A MRSA §2762, 24-A MRSA §2847-O, 24-A MRSA §4255

Legislative Document 
No. 523 
S.P. 213 
In Senate, February 19, 2013 
An Act To Require Health Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aids for 
Adults 
Reference to the Committee on Insurance and Financial Services suggested and ordered 
printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator VALENTINO of York. 
Cosponsored by Representative BECK of Waterville and 
Senators: CAIN of Penobscot, GRATWICK of Penobscot, LACHOWICZ of Kennebec, 
Representatives: BOLAND of Sanford, MAKER of Calais. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  24-A MRSA §2762, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 452, §2, is 
amended to read: 
3.  Application of coverage.  The requirements of subsection 2 apply to an 
individual: 
A.  From birth to 5 years of age, who is covered under a policy or contract that is 
issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2008; 
B.  From 6 to 13 years of age, who is covered under a policy or contract that is issued 
or renewed on or after January 1, 2009; and 
C.  From 14 to 18 years of age, who is covered under a policy or contract that is 
issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2010.; and 
D.  Over 18 years of age, who is covered under a policy or contract that is issued or 
renewed on or after January 1, 2014. 
Sec. 2.  24-A MRSA §2847-O, sub-§2, as reallocated by PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. A, 
§29, is amended to read: 
2.  Required coverage.  In accordance with the application of coverage set forth in 
subsection 3, all group health insurance policies, contracts and certificates must provide 
coverage for the purchase of a hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear for an individual 
covered under the policy, contract or certificate who is 18 years of age or under in 
accordance with the following requirements. 
A.  The hearing loss must be documented by a physician or audiologist licensed 
pursuant to Title 32, chapter 77. 
B.  The hearing aid must be purchased from an audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 
32, chapter 77 or a hearing aid dealer licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 23-A. 
C.  The policy, contract or certificate may limit coverage to $1,400 per hearing aid 
for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months. 
Sec. 3.  24-A MRSA §2847-O, sub-§3, as reallocated by PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. A, 
§29, is amended to read: 
3.  Application of coverage.  The requirements of subsection 2 apply to an 
individual: 
A.  From birth to 5 years of age, who is covered under a policy, contract or certificate 
that is issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2008; 
B.  From 6 to 13 years of age, who is covered under a policy, contract or certificate 
that is issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2009; and 
C.  From 14 to 18 years of age, who is covered under a policy, contract or certificate 
that is issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2010.; and 
D.  Over 18 years of age, who is covered under a policy, contract or certificate that is 
issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2014. 
Sec. 4.  24-A MRSA §4255, sub-§2, as reallocated by PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. A, 
§30, is amended to read: 
2.  Required coverage.  In accordance with the application of coverage set forth in 
subsection 3, all health maintenance organization individual and group health insurance 
contracts must provide coverage for the purchase of a hearing aid for each hearing-
impaired ear for an individual covered under the policy, contract or certificate who is 18 
years of age or under in accordance with the following requirements. 
A.  The hearing loss must be documented by a physician or audiologist licensed 
pursuant to Title 32, chapter 77. 
B.  The hearing aid must be purchased from an audiologist licensed pursuant to Title 
32, chapter 77 or a hearing aid dealer licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 23-A. 
C.  The policy, contract or certificate may limit coverage to $1,400 per hearing aid 
for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months. 
Sec. 5.  24-A MRSA §4255, sub-§3, as reallocated by PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. A, 
§30, is amended to read: 
3.  Application of coverage.  The requirements of subsection 2 apply to an 
individual: 
A.  From birth to 5 years of age, who is covered under a contract that is issued or 
renewed on or after January 1, 2008; 
B.  From 6 to 13 years of age, who is covered under a contract that is issued or 
renewed on or after January 1, 2009; and 
C.  From 14 to 18 years of age, who is covered under a contract that is issued or 
renewed on or after January 1, 2010.; and 
D.  Over 18 years of age, who is covered under a contract that is issued or renewed 
on or after January 1, 2014. 
Sec. 6.  Exemption from review.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 24-A, section 2752, this Act is enacted without review and evaluation by the 
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance. 
Sec. 7.  Application.  The requirements of this Act apply to all policies, contracts 
and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this 
State on or after January 1, 2014.  For the purposes of this Act, all contracts are deemed 
to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires health insurance coverage of hearing aids for persons over 18 years 
of age.