HB2443 Enrolled LRB103 30349 BMS 56779 b
1		AN ACT concerning regulation.
2		Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3		represented in the General Assembly:
4		Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by
5		changing Section 356z.30 as follows:
6		(215 ILCS 5/356z.30)
7		Sec. 356z.30. Coverage for hearing aids for individuals
8		under the age of 18.
9		(a) As used in this Section:
10		"Hearing care professional" means a person who is a
11		licensed hearing instrument dispenser, licensed audiologist,
12		or licensed physician.
13		"Hearing instrument" or "hearing aid" means any wearable
14		non-disposable, non-experimental instrument or device designed
15		to aid or compensate for impaired human hearing and any parts,
16		attachments, or accessories for the instrument or device,
17		including an ear mold but excluding batteries and cords.
18		(b) An individual or group policy of accident and health
19		insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered,
20		issued, or renewed after the effective date of this amendatory
21		Act of the 103rd General Assembly August 22, 2018 (the
22		effective date of Public Act 100-1026) must provide coverage
23		for medically necessary hearing instruments and related

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1		services for all individuals under the age of 18 when a hearing
2		care professional prescribes a hearing instrument to augment
3		communication.
4		(c) An insurer shall provide coverage, subject to all
5		applicable co-payments, co-insurance, deductibles, and
6		out-of-pocket limits, subject to the following restrictions:
7		(1) one hearing instrument shall be covered for each
8		ear every 36 months;
9		(2) related services, such as audiological exams and
10		selection, fitting, and adjustment of ear molds to
11		maintain optimal fit shall be covered when deemed
12		medically necessary by a hearing care professional; and
13		(3) hearing instrument repairs may be covered when
14		deemed medically necessary.
15		(d) If, at any time before or after the effective date of
16		this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly August 22,
17		2018 (the effective date of Public Act 100-1026), the
18		Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human
19		Services, or its successor agency, promulgates rules or
20		regulations to be published in the Federal Register, publishes
21		a comment in the Federal Register, or issues an opinion,
22		guidance, or other action that would require the State,
23		pursuant to any provision of the Patient Protection and
24		Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. 111–148), including, but not
25		limited to, 42 U.S.C. 18031(d)(3)(B) or any successor
26		provision, to defray the cost of coverage for medically

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1		necessary hearing instruments and related services for any
2		individual individuals under the age of 18, then this Section
3		is inoperative with respect to all such coverage other than
4		that authorized under Section 1902 of the Social Security Act,
5		42 U.S.C. 1396a, and the State shall not assume any obligation
6		for the cost of coverage for medically necessary hearing
7		instruments and related services for any individual subject to
8		federally defrayed cost of coverage individuals under the age
9		of 18.
10		(Source: P.A. 100-1026, eff. 8-22-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)
11		Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
12		1, 2025.