New York S 9709: Relates to requiring all insurance policies and medical assistance to provide coverage for medically necessary hearing aids for children under 16 years of age

Bill Text

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S09709 Summary:

BILL NOS09709 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORCLEARE

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COSPNSRCOONEY

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §§3216, 3221 & 4303, Ins L; amd §2511, Pub Health L; amd §365-a, Soc Serv L

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Enacts "Isabella's law" to require all health insurance policies and medical assistance to provide insurance coverage for the cost of medically necessary hearing aids for children under the age of 16.

Go to top S09709 Actions:

BILL NOS09709 

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04/02/2026REFERRED TO INSURANCE

Go to topS09709 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS09709 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS09709 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9709

 IN SENATE

 April 2, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Insurance

 AN ACT to amend the insurance law, the public health law and the social
 services law, in relation to requiring coverage for the purchase of
 medically necessary hearing aids for children under the age of sixteen
 years

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 2 "Isabella's law".
 3 § 2. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by
 4 adding a new paragraph 42 to read as follows:
 5 (42) (A) (i) Every health insurance policy issued or delivered in this
 6 state shall provide coverage for medically necessary hearing aids
 7 purchased from a hearing aid dispenser registered under article thirty-
 8 seven-A of the general business law or an audiologist licensed under
 9 article one hundred fifty-nine of the education law for an insured
 10 person who is less than sixteen years of age, such insured person shall
 11 be entitled to reimbursement of up to one thousand dollars for each
 12 hearing aid every two years for expenses related to the purchase of up
 13 to two hearing aids. When it is demonstrated that: (1) the insured
 14 child's hearing has changed significantly within a two year period; and
 15 (2) the existing hearing aid will no longer correct the child's hearing
 16 loss, such insured person shall be entitled to reimbursement for addi-
 17 tional hearing aid expenses.
 18 (ii) for the purposes of this paragraph, the insured person shall be
 19 entitled to spend more than one thousand dollars on each hearing aid,
 20 but shall only be allowed reimbursement up to the amount provided in
 21 clause (i) of this subparagraph.
 22 (B)(i) For the purposes of this paragraph, "hearing aid" shall mean
 23 any wearable instrument or devices designed for hearing and any parts,
 24 attachments or accessories but excluding batteries and cords or accesso-
 25 ries thereto.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD15441-01-6

 S. 9709 2

 1 (ii) For the purposes of this section, services for recasing, reshell-
 2 ing and acquiring new molds shall be included as part of the policies.
 3 (C) Coverage provided pursuant to this paragraph shall not be subject
 4 to deductibles, coinsurance or copayments.
 5 § 3. Section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new
 6 subsection (w) to read as follows:
 7 (w) (1) (A) Every group health insurance policy issued or delivered in
 8 this state shall provide coverage for hearing aids purchased from a
 9 hearing aid dispenser registered under article thirty-seven-A of the
 10 general business law or an audiologist licensed under article one
 11 hundred fifty-nine of the education law for an insured person who is
 12 less than sixteen years of age, such insured person shall be entitled to
 13 reimbursement of up to one thousand dollars for each hearing aid every
 14 two years for expenses related to the purchase of up to two hearing
 15 aids. When it is demonstrated that: (i) the insured child's hearing
 16 has changed significantly within a two year period; and (ii) the exist-
 17 ing hearing aid will no longer correct the child's hearing loss, such
 18 insured person shall be entitled to reimbursement for additional hearing
 19 aid expenses.
 20 (B) For the purposes of this subs