In casualty insurance, further providing for hearing aid coverage.
HB1670 would expand hearing aid coverage requirements in Pennsylvania insurance law. It amends Section 635 of the Insurance Company Law of 1921 to require insurers that underwrite Medicare or Medicaid insurance for Pennsylvania residents to provide hearing aid coverage, and it also requires health insurance policies and certain government programs to cover hearing aids sold under the Hearing Aid Sales Registration Law. The bill sets a minimum benefit of $2,500 toward a hearing aid, available starting in the first year of enrollment and every three years thereafter, and allows the benefit to be used through a hearing-aid seller or a contracted fitter.
The bill defines the types of policies and programs covered, including Medicaid and CHIP, while excluding a range of limited or specialized policies such as accident-only, dental-only, vision-only, workers' compensation, Medicare supplement, TRICARE, and others. It also establishes when the new requirements would apply, generally tying implementation to new filings or renewals after the effective date and providing a 90-day effective date for the act. In practical terms, the measure would increase mandated hearing-aid benefits in state-regulated health coverage and public coverage programs, likely affecting insurers, managed care plans, and state-administered health programs.
HB1670 would amend Pennsylvania insurance statutes to create or expand a mandated hearing-aid benefit within health insurance policies and certain government programs. It would directly affect insurers offering Medicare- or Medicaid-related coverage, as well as policies governed by the Insurance Company Law of 1921, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, and hospital/professional health services plan laws. The bill also reaches the Commonwealth’s Medical Assistance program and CHIP, requiring those programs to provide hearing-aid coverage subject to applicable cost-sharing. By setting a minimum $2,500 benefit every three years, the bill would likely increase coverage obligations and potentially affect premiums, plan design, and administrative compliance for insurers and public programs.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears supportive and policy-driven rather than contentious. The bill was introduced by a large group of House members, suggesting a broad coalition of sponsors. Its framing around hearing-aid access and coverage expansion indicates a consumer- and health-access-oriented measure, with no evidence in the provided record of organized opposition or amendments. Because no voting history or transcript is available, there is no documented floor or committee sentiment beyond the bill’s introduction and referral.
The main potential points of contention are likely to be cost and mandate scope. Insurers and health plans could object to the required $2,500 hearing-aid benefit and the frequency of coverage every three years, especially if they believe it will raise premiums or administrative burdens. Another possible issue is the breadth of the bill’s application to Medicaid and CHIP, which could raise concerns about public program spending. The bill also excludes many specialized policy types, so any debate may focus on whether the mandate is appropriately targeted or whether additional coverage categories should be included or exempted. No specific objections are documented in the provided materials.