A. As used in this section:
"Hearing aid" means any wearable, nondisposable instrument or device designed or offered to aid or compensate for impaired human hearing and any parts, attachments, or accessories, including earmolds, but excluding batteries and cords. Hearing aids are not to be considered durable medical equipment.
"Related services" includes earmolds, initial batteries, and other necessary equipment, maintenance, and adaptation training.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 38.2-3419, each insurer proposing to issue individual or group accident and sickness insurance policies providing hospital, medical and surgical, or major medical coverage on an expense-incurred basis; each corporation providing individual or group accident and sickness subscription contracts; and each health maintenance organization providing a health care plan for health care services shall provide coverage for hearing aids and related services for children 18 years of age or younger under any policy, contract, or plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth. The coverage shall include payment of the cost of one hearing aid per hearing-impaired ear every 24 months, up to $1,500 per hearing aid. The insured may choose a higher-priced hearing aid and may pay the difference in cost above $1,500, with no financial or contractual penalty to the insured or to the provider of the hearing aid.
C. No insurer, corporation, or health maintenance organization shall impose upon any person receiving benefits pursuant to this section any copayment or fee, and no condition may be applied to the person that is not equally imposed upon all individuals in the same benefit category.
D. Coverage shall be available under this section only for services and equipment recommended by an otolaryngologist. Such recommended services and equipment may be provided or dispensed by an otolaryngologist, licensed audiologist, or licensed hearing aid specialist.
E. The provisions of this section shall apply to any policy, contract, or plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2021.
F. The provisions of this section shall not apply to short-term travel, accident-only, limited or specified disease policies, or contracts designed for issuance to persons eligible for coverage under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, known as Medicare, or any other similar coverage under state or federal governmental plans or to short-term nonrenewable policies of not more than six months' duration.
2020, c. 1094, see 2020, c. 1289, item 487, subdivs. C1, C2, and C3.
Structure Code of Virginia
Chapter 34 - Provisions Relating to Accident and Sickness Insurance
§ 38.2-3400. Application of chapter
§ 38.2-3401. Forms of insurance authorized
§ 38.2-3402. Certification to accompany application
§ 38.2-3403. Fraudulent procurement of policy
§ 38.2-3405.1. Commonwealth's right to certain accident and sickness benefits
§ 38.2-3406. Accident and sickness benefits not subject to legal process
§ 38.2-3406.2. Capped benefits under insurance policies and contracts
§ 38.2-3407. Health benefit programs
§ 38.2-3407.1. Interest on accident and sickness claim proceeds
§ 38.2-3407.2. Coverage for medical child support
§ 38.2-3407.3. Calculation of cost-sharing provisions
§ 38.2-3407.3:1. Premium payment arrearages; order of crediting payments
§ 38.2-3407.4. Explanation of benefits
§ 38.2-3407.4:2. Requirements for prescription benefit cards
§ 38.2-3407.5. Denial of benefits for certain prescription drugs prohibited
§ 38.2-3407.5:1. Coverage for prescription contraceptives
§ 38.2-3407.5:2. Reimbursements for dispensing hormonal contraceptives
§ 38.2-3407.6. Exclusion of podiatrist not permitted under certain circumstances
§ 38.2-3407.6:1. Denial of benefits for certain prescription drugs prohibited
§ 38.2-3407.7. Pharmacies; freedom of choice
§ 38.2-3407.9. Reimbursement for emergency medical services vehicle transportation services
§ 38.2-3407.9:01. Prescription drug formularies
§ 38.2-3407.9:02. Requirement for prescription drug coverage
§ 38.2-3407.9:03. Payment of clean claims to administrators of pharmacy benefits
§ 38.2-3407.9:04. Medication synchronization
§ 38.2-3407.9:05. Step therapy protocols
§ 38.2-3407.10. Health care provider panels
§ 38.2-3407.10:2. Credentialing of private mental health agencies
§ 38.2-3407.11. Access to obstetrician-gynecologists
§ 38.2-3407.11:1. Access to specialists; standing referrals
§ 38.2-3407.11:2. Standing referral for cancer patients
§ 38.2-3407.11:3. Breast cancer underwriting and preexisting condition restrictions
§ 38.2-3407.11:4. Disability arising out of childbirth; minimum benefit
§ 38.2-3407.11:5. Interhospital transfer for newborn or mother; prior authorization prohibited
§ 38.2-3407.12. Patient optional point-of-service benefit
§ 38.2-3407.13. Refusal to accept assignments prohibited; dentists and oral surgeons
§ 38.2-3407.13:1. Coordination of benefits; notice of priority of coverage
§ 38.2-3407.13:2. Claims paid to insureds for services from nonparticipating physicians
§ 38.2-3407.14. Notice of premium or deductible increases
§ 38.2-3407.15. Ethics and fairness in carrier business practices
§ 38.2-3407.15:2. Carrier contracts; required provisions regarding prior authorization
§ 38.2-3407.15:4. Limit on copayment for prescription drugs; permitted disclosures
§ 38.2-3407.15:5. Limit on cost-sharing payments for prescription insulin drugs
§ 38.2-3407.15:6. Prescription drug price transparency
§ 38.2-3407.16. Requirements for obstetrical care
§ 38.2-3407.17. Payment for services by dentists and oral surgeons
§ 38.2-3407.17:1. Payment and reimbursement practices for dental services; network access
§ 38.2-3407.18. Requirements for orally administered cancer chemotherapy drugs
§ 38.2-3407.19. Payment for services by optometrists and ophthalmologists
§ 38.2-3407.21. Short-term limited-duration medical plans
§ 38.2-3407.22. Option for rebates to enrollees; protected information
§ 38.2-3409. Coverage of dependent children
§ 38.2-3410. Construction of policy generally; words "physician" and "doctor" to include dentist
§ 38.2-3411. Coverage of newborn children required
§ 38.2-3411.1. Coverage for child health supervision services
§ 38.2-3411.2. Coverage of adopted children required
§ 38.2-3411.3. Coverage for childhood immunizations
§ 38.2-3411.4. Coverage for infant hearing screening and related diagnostics
§ 38.2-3412.1. Coverage for mental health and substance use disorders
§ 38.2-3414. Optional coverage for obstetrical services
§ 38.2-3414.1. Obstetrical benefits; coverage for postpartum services
§ 38.2-3415. Exclusion or reduction of benefits for certain causes prohibited
§ 38.2-3417. Deductibles and coinsurance options required
§ 38.2-3418. Coverage for victims of rape or incest
§ 38.2-3418.1. Coverage for mammograms
§ 38.2-3418.1:2. Coverage for pap smears
§ 38.2-3418.2. Coverage of procedures involving bones and joints
§ 38.2-3418.3. Coverage for hemophilia and congenital bleeding disorders
§ 38.2-3418.4. Coverage for reconstructive breast surgery; notice; eligibility
§ 38.2-3418.5. Coverage for early intervention services
§ 38.2-3418.6. Minimum hospital stay for mastectomy and certain lymph node dissection patients
§ 38.2-3418.7. Coverage for PSA testing
§ 38.2-3418.7:1. Coverage for colorectal cancer screening
§ 38.2-3418.8. Coverage for clinical trials for treatment studies on cancer
§ 38.2-3418.9. Minimum hospital stay for hysterectomy
§ 38.2-3418.10. Coverage for diabetes
§ 38.2-3418.11. Coverage for hospice care
§ 38.2-3418.12. Coverage for hospitalization and anesthesia for dental procedures
§ 38.2-3418.13. Coverage for the treatment of morbid obesity
§ 38.2-3418.14. Coverage for lymphedema
§ 38.2-3418.15. Coverage for prosthetic devices and components
§ 38.2-3418.15:1. Coverage for prosthetic devices and components
§ 38.2-3418.16. Coverage for telemedicine services
§ 38.2-3418.17. Coverage for autism spectrum disorder
§ 38.2-3418.18. Coverage for formula and enteral nutrition products as medicine
§ 38.2-3418.19. Coverage for organ, eye or tissue transplant
§ 38.2-3418.20. Coverage for hearing aids and related services
§ 38.2-3419. Additional mandated coverage made optional to group policy or contract holder
§ 38.2-3419.1. Report of costs and utilization of mandated benefits
§ 38.2-3420. Authority and jurisdiction of Commission; exception
§ 38.2-3421. How to show jurisdiction of other state agency or federal government
§ 38.2-3423. When subject to this title
§ 38.2-3424. Disclosure of extent and elements of coverage
§ 38.2-3430.1. Application of article
§ 38.2-3430.1:1. Health insurance coverage not required
§ 38.2-3430.4. Special rules for network plans
§ 38.2-3430.5. Application of financial capacity limits
§ 38.2-3430.6. Market requirements
§ 38.2-3430.7. Renewability of individual health insurance coverage
§ 38.2-3430.8. Certification of coverage
§ 38.2-3430.9. Regulations establishing standards
§ 38.2-3430.10. Effective date
§ 38.2-3431. Application of article; definitions
§ 38.2-3432.3. Limitation on preexisting condition exclusion period
§ 38.2-3434. Disclosure of information
§ 38.2-3436. Eligibility to enroll
§ 38.2-3437. Rules used to determine group size
§ 38.2-3439. Dependent coverage for individuals to age 26
§ 38.2-3440. Lifetime and annual limits
§ 38.2-3442. Preventive services
§ 38.2-3443. Choice of a health care professional
§ 38.2-3444. Preexisting condition exclusions
§ 38.2-3445. Patient access to emergency services
§ 38.2-3445.01. Balance billing for certain services; prohibited
§ 38.2-3445.03. Data sets for determining commercially reasonable payments
§ 38.2-3445.06. Applicability of certain sections
§ 38.2-3445.07. Rules and regulations
§ 38.2-3445.2. Out-of-network claims; reporting requirements
§ 38.2-3446. Applicability of federal law
§ 38.2-3447. Restrictions relating to premium rates
§ 38.2-3448. Guaranteed availability
§ 38.2-3449. Prohibiting discrimination based on health status
§ 38.2-3450. Genetic information and testing
§ 38.2-3451. Essential health benefits
§ 38.2-3454. Wellness programs
§ 38.2-3454.1. Renewal of health benefit plans; special exception
§ 38.2-3456. Prohibited activities
§ 38.2-3457. Application for registration
§ 38.2-3458. Power of Commission to investigate navigators
§ 38.2-3462. Comparable Health Care Service Incentive Program
§ 38.2-3463. Health care price transparency tools
§ 38.2-3464. Rules and regulations; orders
§ 38.2-3467. Prohibited conduct by carriers and pharmacy benefits managers
§ 38.2-3468. Examination of books and records; reports; access to records
§ 38.2-3469. (Effective October 1, 2020) Enforcement; regulations