NY State Senate Bill 2017-S4742

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2018	referred to insurance
Feb 27, 2017	referred to insurance

2017-S4742 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A1253
Current Committee:: Senate Insurance
Law Section:: Insurance Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§3216, 3221 & 4303, Ins L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: A8242
2011-2012: A1983
2013-2014: A712
2015-2016: A351
2019-2020: A1168
2021-2022: A2056
2023-2024: A535

2017-S4742 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires all health insurance policies to provide insurance coverage for the cost of hearing aids; provides that such coverage shall include coverage of at least $3,000 over a four year period; provides that children under the age of sixteen are allowed reimbursement for additional expenses if needed.

2017-S4742 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S4742

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to
providing coverage for hearing aids

 PURPOSE :

This bill requires all insurance policies to provide a certain amount
of coverage for hearing aids.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section one amends Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law
is by adding a new paragraph 32.

Section two amends Section 3221 of the insurance law by adding a new
subsection (t).

Section three amends Section 4303 of the insurance law by adding a new
subsection (oo).

Section four sets forth the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Hearing loss is America's most pervasive physical disability, with

more than 28 million hard of hearing people in the United States.
Estimates indicate that one in 10 people suffer some level of hearing
loss. While the largest concentration of those with impaired hearing
are over the age of 65 (one in three), increasingly more people are
suffering hearing loss at increasingly younger ages. Studies have
found that people who have significant difficulty communicating
perform at a lower academic level, are often underemployed and are
more susceptible to emotional and physical disorders.

As a necessary tool in assisting the hearing-impaired to better
communicate, hearing aids serve a vital role in our society. Not only
do they have the potential to positively impact 28 million Americans
economically, mentally, psychologically and physically, but they also
serve to relieve long-term burdens on our governmental institutions,
health care systems and economy. Hearing aids help young children who
need to acquire listening skills in order to develop spoken language;
students who, within a school environment, will be better equipped to
achieve their greatest potential through education; those in the
workplace who need to maintain their connection to their associates;
and the elderly who benefit from interaction and socialization with
others through spoken communication.

While the cost of just one hearing aid can range from $1,000 to
$4,500, many insurance companies in New York State do not currently
provide coverage for the purchase of them. As a result, too many New
Yorkers who need hearing aids simply cannot afford them and go
without. By requiring insurance coverage for hearing aids, this bill
would provide all New Yorkers with access to these critically
important devices.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None to the State.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This bill shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all
policies issued, modified or renewed on and after such date.

2017-S4742 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4742
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 27, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  GOLDEN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance
 
 AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to providing coverage for
   hearing aids
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Subsection  (i)  of  section 3216 of the insurance law is
 amended by adding a new paragraph 34 to read as follows:
   (34) (A) EVERY HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY ISSUED  OR  DELIVERED  IN  THIS
 STATE SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR HEARING AIDS PURCHASED FROM HEARING AID
 DISPENSERS  REGISTERED UNDER ARTICLE THIRTY-SEVEN-A OF THE GENERAL BUSI-
 NESS LAW OR AUDIOLOGISTS LICENSED UNDER ARTICLE ONE  HUNDRED  FIFTY-NINE
 OF THE EDUCATION LAW IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:
   (I)  FOR  AN INSURED PERSON WHO IS SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, SUCH
 INSURED PERSON SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO  THREE  THOU-
 SAND  DOLLARS  EVERY  FOUR YEARS FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE PURCHASE OF
 EACH HEARING AID.
   (II) FOR AN INSURED PERSON WHO IS LESS THAN SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE, SUCH
 INSURED PERSON SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO  THREE  THOU-
 SAND  DOLLARS  EVERY  TWO  YEARS FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE PURCHASE OF
 EACH HEARING AID.  WHEN IT IS DEMONSTRATED THAT (1) THE INSURED  CHILD'S
 HEARING  HAS  CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD AND (2) THE
 EXISTING HEARING AID WILL NO LONGER CORRECT THE  CHILD'S  HEARING  LOSS,
 SUCH  INSURED  PERSON  SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL
 HEARING AID EXPENSES.
   (B)(I) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH "HEARING AID" SHALL MEAN ANY
 WEARABLE INSTRUMENT OR DEVICES  DESIGNED  FOR  HEARING  AND  ANY  PARTS,
 ATTACHMENTS OR ACCESSORIES BUT EXCLUDING BATTERIES AND CORDS OR ACCESSO-
 RIES  THERETO.   A REGISTERED HEARING AID DISPENSER OR LICENSED AUDIOLO-
 GIST SHALL DETERMINE THE TYPE OF DEVICE NEEDED TO  CORRECT  THE  HEARING
 LOSS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD04953-01-7

 S. 4742                             2
 
   (II) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, SERVICES FOR RECASING, RESHELL-
 ING AND ACQUIRING NEW MOLDS SHALL BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE POLICIES.
   (C)  COVERAGE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT
 TO DEDUCTIBLES, COINSURANCE, OR COPAYMENTS.
   § 2. Section 3221 of the insurance law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subsection (t) to read as follows:
   (T)  (1)  EVERY  GROUP  HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN
 THIS STATE SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR HEARING AIDS PURCHASED FROM  HEAR-
 ING AID DISPENSERS REGISTERED UNDER ARTICLE THIRTY-SEVEN-A OF THE GENER-
 AL  BUSINESS  LAW  OR  AUDIOLOGISTS  LICENSED  UNDER ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED
 FIFTY-NINE OF THE EDUCATION LAW IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:
   (A) FOR AN INSURED PERSON WHO IS SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR  OLDER,  SUCH
 INSURED  PERSON  SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO THREE THOU-
 SAND DOLLARS EVERY FOUR YEARS FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO  THE  PURCHASE  OF
 EACH HEARING AID.
   (B)  FOR AN INSURED PERSON WHO IS LESS THAN SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE, SUCH
 INSURED PERSON SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO  THREE  THOU-
 SAND  DOLLARS  EVERY  TWO  YEARS FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE PURCHASE OF
 EACH HEARING AID.  WHEN IT IS DEMONSTRATED THAT (I) THE INSURED  CHILD'S
 HEARING  HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD AND (II) THE
 EXISTING HEARING AID WILL NO LONGER CORRECT THE  CHILD'S  HEARING  LOSS,
 SUCH  INSURED  PERSON  SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL
 HEARING AID EXPENSES.
   (2)(A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION, "HEARING AID"  SHALL  MEAN
 ANY  WEARABLE  INSTRUMENT OR DEVICES DESIGNED FOR HEARING AND ANY PARTS,
 ATTACHMENTS OR ACCESSORIES BUT EXCLUDING BATTERIES AND CORDS OR ACCESSO-
 RIES THERETO.  A REGISTERED HEARING AID DISPENSER OR  LICENSED  AUDIOLO-
 GIST  SHALL  DETERMINE  THE TYPE OF DEVICE NEEDED TO CORRECT THE HEARING
 LOSS.
   (B) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, SERVICES FOR RECASING,  RESHELL-
 ING AND ACQUIRING NEW MOLDS SHALL BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE POLICIES.
   (3) COVERAGE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT
 TO DEDUCTIBLES, COINSURANCE, OR COPAYMENTS.
   §  3.  Section  4303  of  the insurance law is amended by adding a new
 subsection (oo) to read as follows:
   (OO) (1) EVERY CONTRACT ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THIS STATE BY A  HEALTH
 SERVICE CORPORATION OR HOSPITAL SERVICE CORPORATION SHALL PROVIDE COVER-
 AGE  FOR  HEARING  AIDS PURCHASED FROM HEARING AID DISPENSERS REGISTERED
 UNDER ARTICLE THIRTY-SEVEN-A OF THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW OR AUDIOLOGISTS
 LICENSED UNDER ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-NINE OF THE  EDUCATION  LAW  IN
 THE FOLLOWING MANNER:
   (A)  FOR  AN INSURED PERSON WHO IS SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, SUCH
 INSURED PERSON SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO  THREE  THOU-
 SAND  DOLLARS  EVERY  FOUR YEARS FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE PURCHASE OF
 EACH HEARING AID.
   (B) FOR AN INSURED PERSON WHO IS LESS THAN SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE,  SUCH
 INSURED  PERSON  SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO THREE THOU-
 SAND DOLLARS EVERY TWO YEARS FOR EXPENSES RELATED  TO  THE  PURCHASE  OF
 EACH  HEARING AID.  WHEN IT IS DEMONSTRATED THAT (I) THE INSURED CHILD'S
 HEARING HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD AND (II)  THE
 EXISTING  HEARING  AID  WILL NO LONGER CORRECT THE CHILD'S HEARING LOSS,
 SUCH INSURED PERSON SHALL BE ENTITLED TO  REIMBURSEMENT  FOR  ADDITIONAL
 HEARING AID EXPENSES.
   (2)(A)  FOR  THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION, "HEARING AID" SHALL MEAN
 ANY WEARABLE INSTRUMENT OR DEVICES DESIGNED FOR HEARING AND  ANY  PARTS,
 ATTACHMENTS OR ACCESSORIES BUT EXCLUDING BATTERIES AND CORDS OR ACCESSO-

 S. 4742                             3
 
 RIES  THERETO.   A REGISTERED HEARING AID DISPENSER OR LICENSED AUDIOLO-
 GIST SHALL DETERMINE THE TYPE OF DEVICE NEEDED TO  CORRECT  THE  HEARING
 LOSS.
   (B)  FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, SERVICES FOR RECASING, RESHELL-
 ING AND ACQUIRING NEW MOLDS SHALL BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE POLICIES.
   (3) COVERAGE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT
 TO DEDUCTIBLES, COINSURANCE, OR COPAYMENTS.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next  succeed-
 ing  the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all
 policies issued, modified or renewed on and after such date.

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Senate Bill S4742

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

2017-S4742 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S4742 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S4742 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S4742 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S4742

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Sponsored By

Martin J. Golden

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Insurance Committee

2017-S4742 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S4742 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S4742 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S4742 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments