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Bill

HB 1355

Health Insurance - Required Coverage - Hearing Aids

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Wayne Hartman and 2 co-sponsors

Maryland mandates health insurance coverage of hearing aids, expanding access to hearing healthcare for insured residents by requiring all plans to include this previously often-excluded benefit.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 742
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1355

Legislative bill overview

HB 1355 requires Maryland health insurance plans to cover hearing aids as a mandated benefit. The bill was sponsored by Teresa Reilly, April Miller, and Wayne Hartman, and was signed into law by the Governor on May 20, 2025, becoming Chapter 742.

Why is this important

Hearing loss affects millions of Americans but hearing aids remain expensive and often unaffordable without insurance coverage. This mandate expands access to hearing healthcare for Maryland residents by requiring insurers to include hearing aid coverage in their plans, potentially improving quality of life and social participation for people with hearing impairments.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Insurance companies may argue that mandatory hearing aid coverage will increase premiums for all policyholders, raising healthcare costs broadly
  • Coverage scope uncertainty: Potential disputes over what constitutes covered hearing aids, frequency of replacement, and which types of devices are included under the mandate
  • Regulatory burden: Insurers and healthcare providers may face administrative complexity in implementing coverage standards, prior authorization requirements, and reimbursement rates for hearing aid dispensers

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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