An Act To Require Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aids for Adults
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0038
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: HANDY, HERBIG, BROOKS, FAY, FOLEY, MELARAGNO, SHEATS, ZEIGLER, CARPENTER, CARSON
Amends: 24-A MRSA §2762, 24-A MRSA §2847-O, 24-A MRSA §4255

Legislative Document
No. 38
H.P. 39
House of Representatives, January 9, 2019
An Act To Require Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aids for Adults
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HANDY of Lewiston.
Cosponsored by Senator HERBIG of Waldo and
Representatives: BROOKS of Lewiston, FAY of Raymond, FOLEY of Biddeford, 
MELARAGNO of Auburn, SHEATS of Auburn, ZEIGLER of Montville, Senators: 
CARPENTER of Aroostook, CARSON of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  24-A MRSA §2762, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2015, c. 494, Pt. A, §28, 
is further amended to read:
2.  Required coverage.  In accordance with the application of coverage set forth in 
subsection 3, all All individual health policies and contracts must provide coverage for 
the purchase of a hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear for an individual covered 
under the policy or contract in accordance with the following requirements.
A.  The hearing loss must be documented by a physician or audiologist licensed 
pursuant to Title 32, chapter 137.
B.  The hearing aid must be purchased from an audiologist or hearing aid dealer 
licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 137.
C.  The policy or contract may limit coverage to $1,400 $3,000 per hearing aid for 
each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months.
Sec. 2.  24-A MRSA §2762, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 452, §2, is 
repealed.
Sec. 3.  24-A MRSA §2847-O, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2015, c. 494, Pt. A, 
§29, is further amended to read:
2.  Required coverage.  In accordance with the application of coverage set forth in 
subsection 3, all 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 137.
B.  The hearing aid must be purchased from an audiologist or hearing aid dealer 
licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 137.
C.  The policy, contract or certificate may limit coverage to $1,400 $3,000 per 
hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months.
Sec. 4.  24-A MRSA §2847-O, sub-§3, as reallocated by PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. A, 
§29, is repealed.
Sec. 5.  24-A MRSA §4255, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2015, c. 494, Pt. A, §30, 
is further amended to read:
2.  Required coverage.  In accordance with the application of coverage set forth in 
subsection 3, all 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 137.
B.  The hearing aid must be purchased from an audiologist or hearing aid dealer 
licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 137.
C.  The policy, contract or certificate may limit coverage to $1,400 $3,000 per 
hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months.
Sec. 6.  24-A MRSA §4255, sub-§3, as reallocated by PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. A, 
§30, is repealed.
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, 2020.  For purposes of this Act, all contracts are deemed to be 
renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.
Sec. 8.  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.
SUMMARY
This bill requires insurance plans to provide coverage for hearing aids at a minimum 
of $3,000 per hearing aid to all individuals with documented hearing loss.