Introduced Version




HOUSE BILL No. 1311

_____


DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL



Citations Affected: IC 5-10-8-7.4; IC 27-8-24.4; IC 27-13-7-20.

Synopsis: Insurance coverage for hearing aids. Requires a state employee health plan, a policy of accident and sickness insurance, and a health maintenance organization contract to provide hearing aid coverage.

Effective: July 1, 2009.



Goodin


    January 13, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Insurance.




Introduced

First Regular Session 116th General Assembly (2009)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
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HOUSE BILL No. 1311


    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning insurance.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 5-10-8-7.4; (09)IN1311.1.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 5-10-8-7.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009]: Sec. 7.4. (a) As used in this section, "covered individual" means an individual who is entitled to coverage under a state employee health plan.
    (b) As used in this section, "hearing aid" means a nondisposable device that is of a design and circuitry to optimize audibility and listening skills.
    (c) As used in this section, "hearing aid coverage" means coverage for a hearing aid that is:
        (1) prescribed;
        (2) fitted; and
        (3) dispensed;
for a covered individual by an audiologist licensed under IC 25-35.6.
    (d) As used in this section, "state employee health plan" refers to:
        (1) a self-insurance program established under section 7(b) of this chapter to provide group health coverage; or
        (2) a contract for health services with a prepaid health care delivery plan that is entered into or renewed under section 7(c) of this chapter;
that provides coverage for basic health care services (as defined in IC 27-13-1-4).
    (e) A state employee health plan must provide hearing aid coverage for a covered individual.
SOURCE: IC 27-8-24.4; (09)IN1311.1.2. -->     SECTION 2. IC 27-8-24.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009]:
    Chapter 24.4. Coverage for Hearing Aids
    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "covered individual" means an individual who is entitled to coverage under a policy of accident and sickness insurance.
    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "hearing aid" means a nondisposable device that is of a design and circuitry to optimize audibility and listening skills.
    Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "hearing aid coverage" means coverage for a hearing aid that is:
        (1) prescribed;
        (2) fitted; and
        (3) dispensed;
for a covered individual by an audiologist licensed under IC 25-35.6.
    Sec. 4. (a) As used in this chapter, "policy of accident and sickness insurance" has the meaning set forth in IC 27-8-5-1.
    (b) The term does not include the following:
        (1) Accident only, credit, dental, vision, Medicare, Medicare supplement, long term care, or disability income insurance.
        (2) Coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance.
        (3) Automobile medical payment insurance.
        (4) A specified disease policy.
        (5) A limited benefit health insurance policy.
        (6) A short term insurance plan that:
            (A) may not be renewed; and
            (B) has a duration of not more than six (6) months.
        (7) A policy that provides a stipulated daily, weekly, or monthly payment to an insured during hospital confinement, without regard to the actual expense of the confinement.
        (8) Worker's compensation or similar insurance.
        (9) A student health insurance policy.
    Sec. 5. A policy of accident and sickness insurance must provide hearing aid coverage for a covered individual.
SOURCE: IC 27-13-7-20; (09)IN1311.1.3. -->     SECTION 3. IC 27-13-7-20 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009]: Sec. 20. (a) As used in this section, "hearing aid" means a nondisposable device that is of a design and circuitry to optimize audibility and listening skills.
    (b) As used in this section, "hearing aid coverage" means coverage for a hearing aid that is:
        (1) prescribed;
        (2) fitted; and
        (3) dispensed;
for an enrollee by an audiologist licensed under IC 25-35.6.
     (c) An individual contract or a group contract with a health maintenance organization that provides coverage for basic health care services must provide hearing aid coverage for an enrollee.
SOURCE: ; (09)IN1311.1.4. -->     SECTION 4. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009] (a) IC 5-10-8-7.4, as added by this act, applies to a state employee health benefit plan that is entered into, delivered, established, amended, or renewed after June 30, 2009.
    (b) IC 27-8-24.4, as added by this act, applies to a policy of accident and sickness insurance that is issued, delivered, amended, or renewed after June 30, 2009.
    (c) IC 27-13-7-20, as added by this act, applies to a health maintenance organization contract that is entered into, delivered, amended, or renewed after June 30, 2009.