General Assembly Raised Bill No. 202 February Session, 2012 LCO No. 779 *00779_______INS* Referred to Committee on Insurance and Real Estate Introduced by: (INS) General Assembly Raised Bill No. 202 February Session, 2012 LCO No. 779 *00779_______INS* Referred to Committee on Insurance and Real Estate Introduced by: (INS) AN ACT CONCERNING INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR HEARING AIDS. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. Section 38a-490b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2013): Each individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state [on or after October 1, 2001,] shall provide coverage for hearing aids for (1) children twelve years of age or younger, and (2) persons who have reached fifty-five years of age but have not reached sixty-five years of age. Such hearing aids shall be considered durable medical equipment under the policy and the policy may limit the hearing aid benefit to one thousand dollars within a twenty-four-month period. Sec. 2. Section 38a-516b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2013): Each group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state [on or after October 1, 2001,] shall provide coverage for hearing aids for (1) children twelve years of age or younger, and (2) persons who have reached fifty-five years of age but have not reached sixty-five years of age. Such hearing aids shall be considered durable medical equipment under the policy and the policy may limit the hearing aid benefit to one thousand dollars within a twenty-four-month period. This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 January 1, 2013 38a-490b Sec. 2 January 1, 2013 38a-516b This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 January 1, 2013 38a-490b Sec. 2 January 1, 2013 38a-516b Statement of Purpose: To require insurance coverage for hearing aids for persons who have reached fifty-five years of age but have not reached sixty-five years of age. [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]