Public Act 103-0530
 
HB2443 EnrolledLRB103 30349 BMS 56779 b


  
    AN ACT concerning regulation.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended  by 
changing Section 356z.30 as follows:
 
    (215 ILCS 5/356z.30)
    Sec. 356z.30. Coverage for hearing aids for individuals 
under the age of 18.
    (a) As used in this Section:
    "Hearing care professional" means a person who is a

licensed hearing instrument dispenser, licensed audiologist, 
or licensed physician.
    "Hearing instrument" or "hearing aid" means any wearable

non-disposable, non-experimental instrument or device designed 
to aid or
compensate for impaired human hearing and any parts, 
attachments, or accessories for the instrument or device, 
including
an ear mold but excluding batteries and cords.
    (b) An individual or group policy of accident and health

insurance or managed care plan that is amended, delivered,

issued, or renewed after the effective date of this amendatory 
Act of the 103rd General Assembly August 22, 2018 (the 
effective date of Public Act 100-1026) must provide coverage 
for
medically necessary hearing instruments and related 
services for all individuals under the age of 18
when a hearing 
care professional prescribes a hearing instrument to augment 
communication.
    (c) An insurer shall provide coverage, subject to all 
applicable co-payments, co-insurance, deductibles, and 
out-of-pocket limits, subject to the following restrictions:
        (1) one hearing instrument shall be covered for each 
    ear every 36 months;
        (2) related services, such as audiological exams and 
    selection, fitting, and adjustment of ear molds to 
    maintain optimal fit shall be covered when deemed 
    medically necessary by a hearing care professional; and
        (3) hearing instrument repairs may be covered when 
    deemed medically necessary.
    (d) If, at any time before or after the effective date of 
this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly August 22, 
2018 (the effective date of Public Act 100-1026), the 
Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human 
Services, or its successor agency, promulgates rules or 
regulations to be published in the Federal Register, publishes 
a comment in the Federal Register, or issues an opinion, 
guidance, or other action that would require the State, 
pursuant to any provision of the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. 111–148), including, but not 
limited to, 42 U.S.C. 18031(d)(3)(B) or any successor 
provision,  to defray the cost of coverage for medically 
necessary hearing instruments and related services for any 
individual individuals under the age of 18, then this Section 
is inoperative with respect to all such coverage other than 
that authorized under Section 1902 of the Social Security Act, 
42 U.S.C. 1396a, and the State shall not assume any obligation 
for the cost of coverage for medically necessary hearing 
instruments and related services for any individual subject to 
federally defrayed cost of coverage individuals under the age 
of 18. 

(Source: P.A. 100-1026, eff. 8-22-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.) 
  
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 
1, 2025.