CaliforniaHealth care coverage: hearing aids.
What it does
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires an individual or small group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to include, at a minimum, coverage for essential health benefits, as specified.
More detail
Commencing January 1, 2027, if the United States Department of Health and Human Services approves a new essential health benefits benchmark plan for the state, existing law requires essential health benefits to include an annual hearing exam and one hearing aid per ear every three years.
This bill, the Let California Kids Hear Act, would require a large group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2028, to include coverage for hearing aids, as defined, and related services for enrollees and insureds under 21 years of age, if medically necessary. The bill would authorize a large group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to limit the dollar coverage for each individual hearing aid device to $3,000, as specified. Because a willful violation of these requirements by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Where do you stand?
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 966, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 30Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 4Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 28Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 6061.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB331 Menjivar et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 27From committee: That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 6046.)Minor
- Vote recorded That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 26From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on HEALTH pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 5823.) Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.Minor
- Aug 26Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d).Minor
- Aug 25In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 331 Menjivar Senate Third Reading By Bonta. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6515.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 19Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 19Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 6Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 5From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Jul 1From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jul 1Coauthors revised.
- Jun 30
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 1From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.Major
- 2025
- Jul 2July 8 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Jun 16Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.Minor
- Jun 5In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Jun 4Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 27. Noes 0. Page 1514.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 23Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- May 23From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 1196.) (May 23).Major
- May 16Set for hearing May 23.
- May 12May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- May 6Set for hearing May 12.
- May 1Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Apr 30From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0. Page 939.) (April 29).Major
- Apr 29
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 10Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- Apr 10From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 737.) (April 9).Major
- Apr 9Set for hearing April 29 in JUD. pending receipt.
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Judiciary]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 3Set for hearing April 9.
- Apr 2Re-referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.Minor
- Mar 25Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Mar 25Withdrawn from committee.Major
- Mar 24From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U & C.Major
- Feb 19Referred to Coms. on E., U & C. and E.Q.Minor
- Feb 13From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 15.
- Feb 12Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced