EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb1355*
HOUSE BILL 1355
J5 5lr2935
CF SB 641
By: Delegates Reilly, Hartman, and Miller
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 6, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Health Insurance – Required Coverage – Hearing Aids 2
FOR the purpose of altering the circumstances under which certain insurers, nonprofit 3
health service plans, and health maintenance organizations are required to provide 4
coverage for medically appropriate and necessary hearing aids for adults to require 5
coverage if the hearing aid is ordered, fitted, and dispensed by a licensed hearing aid 6
dispenser; and generally relating to health insurance coverage for hearing aids. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Insurance 9
Section 15–838.1 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Insurance 15
15–838.1. 16
(a) In this section, “hearing aid” means a device that: 17
(1) is of a design and circuitry to optimize audibility and listening skills in 18
the environment commonly experienced by adults; and 19 2 HOUSE BILL 1355
(2) is nondisposable. 1
(b) This section applies to: 2
(1) insurers and nonprofit health service plans that provide hospital, 3
medical, or surgical benefits to individuals or groups on an expense–incurred basis under 4
health insurance policies or contracts that are issued or delivered in the State; and 5
(2) health maintenance organizations that provide hospital, medical, or 6
surgical benefits to individuals or groups under contracts that are issued or delivered in 7
the State. 8
(c) An entity subject to this section shall provide coverage for all medically 9
appropriate and necessary hearing aids for an adult who is covered under a policy or 10
contract if the hearing aids are: 11
(1) prescribed, fitted, and dispensed by a licensed audiologist; OR 12
(2) ORDERED, FITTED, AND DISPENSED BY A LICENSED HEARING A ID 13
DISPENSER. 14
(d) (1) An entity subject to this section may limit the benefit payable under 15
subsection (c) of this section to $1,400 per hearing aid for each hearing–impaired ear every 16
36 months. 17
(2) An insured or enrollee may choose a hearing aid that is priced higher 18
than the benefit payable under this subsection and may pay the difference between the 19
price of the hearing aid and the benefit payable under this subsection, without financial or 20
contractual penalty to the provider of the hearing aid. 21
(e) This section does not prohibit an entity subject to this section from providing 22
coverage that is greater or more favorable to an insured or enrollee than the coverage 23
required under this section. 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall apply to all 25
policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the State on or 26
after January 1, 2026. 27
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 28
January 1, 2026. 29