§ 17:48A-7dd — Medical service corporation to provide coverage for hearing aids, cochlear implant for covered persons.

3. a. A medical service corporation contract that provides hospital and medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1940, c.74 (C.17:48A-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for medically necessary expenses incurred in the purchase of a hearing aid or cochlear implant for a covered person, as provided in this section. b. A medical service corporation contract shall provide coverage that includes the purchase of a hearing aid for each ear, when medically necessary and as prescribed or recommended by a licensed physician or audiologist. A medical service corporation may limit the benefit provided in this section to one hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 24 months. c. A medical service corporation contract shall provide coverage of the cost of treatment related to cochlear implants, including procedures for the implantation of cochlear devices and costs for any parts, attachments, or accessories of the device, including replacement of obsolete external cochlear implant processors. d. The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the contract. e. This section shall apply to those medical service corporation contracts in which the medical service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium. L.2008, c.126, s.3; amended 2023, c.275, s.2.