An Act to Amend Laws Governing Hearing Aid Dealers and Health
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1413
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: BENNETT, ZAGER, DAUGHTRY
Amends: 24-A MRSA §2762, 24-A MRSA §2847-O, 24-A MRSA §4255, 32 MRSA §17305

Legislative Document
No. 1413
S.P. 552
In Senate, April 1, 2025
An Act to Amend Laws Governing Hearing Aid Dealers and Health 
Insurance to Allow an Exception to Certain Hearing Examination 
Requirements
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BENNETT of Oxford.
Cosponsored by Representative ZAGER of Portland and
Senators: BAILEY of York, BALDACCI of Penobscot, CYRWAY of Kennebec, President 
DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, HAGGAN of Penobscot, MOORE of Washington, 
Representatives: GRAHAM of North Yarmouth, HENDERSON of Rumford.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  24-A MRSA §2762, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Hearing examinations for replacement hearing aids; exception required.  
Coverage for a replacement hearing aid under an individual health policy or contract 
pursuant to this section may not be denied or delayed for the sole reason that the individual 
covered under the policy or contract is unable to attend a hearing examination prior to the 
replacement because the individual is too ill or infirm to safely attend the examination.
Sec. 2.  24-A MRSA §2847-O, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Hearing examinations for replacement hearing aids; exception required.  
Coverage for a replacement hearing aid under a group health insurance policy, contract or 
certificate pursuant to this section may not be denied or delayed for the sole reason that the 
individual covered under the policy, contract or certificate is unable to attend a hearing 
examination prior to the replacement because the individual is too ill or infirm to safely 
attend the examination.
Sec. 3.  24-A MRSA §4255, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Hearing examinations for replacement hearing aids; exception required.  
Coverage for a replacement hearing aid under a health maintenance organization individual 
and group health insurance policy, contract or certificate pursuant to this section may not 
be denied or delayed for the sole reason that the individual covered under the policy, 
contract or certificate is unable to attend a hearing examination prior to the replacement 
because the individual is too ill or infirm to safely attend the examination.
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §17305, sub-§7 is enacted to read:
7.  Exceptions from hearing examination requirements.  Notwithstanding any 
provision of this section to the contrary, a dealer-licensee may sell and furnish a hearing 
aid to a prospective purchaser without evidence of a recent ear or hearing examination if 
the prospective purchaser:
A. Typically wears or is currently using a hearing aid;
B. Is seeking to replace a recently lost, stolen, broken or failing hearing aid with a 
hearing aid of the same specifications; and
C. Is unable to attend a hearing examination because the prospective purchaser is too 
ill or infirm to do so safely.
SUMMARY
This bill changes provisions of law governing insurance coverage for hearing aids and 
hearing aid dealing and fitting practices to allow an exception to a requirement that an 
individual attend an ear or hearing examination prior to obtaining a replacement hearing 
aid if that individual is too ill or infirm to safely attend the examination.