Hearing Aid Coverage Increase from $1,400 to $2,500

Kentucky Legislative Events

Published April 3rd, 2026

Detected April 4th, 2026

Summary

The Kentucky General Assembly passed HB164, signed by the Governor on April 3, 2026, increasing mandatory health insurance coverage for hearing aids from $1,400 to $2,500 per hearing aid. The bill also establishes network adequacy requirements for hearing aid providers and raises the state employee health plan cap to $2,500. The legislation takes effect January 1, 2027 for plans issued or renewed on or after that date.

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What changed

Kentucky HB164 amends KRS 304.17A-132 and KRS 18A.225 to increase the mandatory coverage amount for hearing aids and related services from $1,400 to $2,500. The bill also establishes new network adequacy requirements for hearing aid providers that health insurers must meet. The legislation applies to all health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.

Health insurers and the state employee health plan must update plan documents and premium calculations to reflect the $2,500 coverage cap and comply with network adequacy requirements before the January 1, 2027 effective date. Insurers should review current provider networks to ensure adequate access to hearing aid providers and related services.

What to do next

Update health benefit plan documents to reflect $2,500 hearing aid coverage cap
Review and adjust provider networks to meet hearing aid network adequacy requirements
Adjust state employee health plan systems for the increased coverage amount

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Kentucky / HB164 Signed by Governor HB164 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-03

AN ACT relating to coverage for hearing aids and related services.

Amend KRS 304.17A-132 to modify the definition of "hearing aid"; increase the coverage amount for hearing aids from $1,400 to $2,500; establish network adequacy requirements relating to the provision of hearing aids and related services that are required to be covered; amend KRS 18A.225 to increase the cap on hearing aids and hearing aid-related services under the state employee health plan from $1,400 to $2,500; direct that the Act applies to health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2027.

Bill Details

State Kentucky

Session 2026 Regular Session

Chamber House

Official Source apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb164....

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Action History

2026-04-03 H signed by Governor 2026-03-26 H delivered to Governor 2026-03-26 H enrolled, signed by President of the Senate 2026-03-26 H enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House 2026-03-26 H received in House 2026-03-25 S 3rd reading, passed 38-0 2026-03-24 S posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Wednesday, March 25 2026 2026-03-18 S 2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill 2026-03-17 S reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar 2026-03-13 S to Banking & Insurance (S) 2026-02-03 S to Committee on Committees (S) 2026-02-03 S received in Senate 2026-02-02 H 3rd reading, passed 93-0 2026-01-30 H posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, February 02 2026 2026-01-29 H 2nd reading, to Rules 2026-01-28 H reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar 2026-01-12 H to Banking & Insurance (H) 2026-01-07 H to Committee on Committees (H) 2026-01-07 H introduced in House

Votes

2026-02-02 House: Third Reading RCS# 44 Yea: 93 Nay: 0 2026-02-02 House: Veto Override RCS# 44 Yea: 93 Nay: 0 2026-03-25 Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3993 Yea: 38 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-01-07 H Committee On Committees 2026-01-12 H Banking and Insurance 2026-01-29 H Rules 2026-02-03 S Committee on Committees 2026-03-13 S Banking and Insurance 2026-03-18 S Rules

Bill Text Versions

0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed

Subjects

Children and Minors Effective Dates, Delayed Health and Medical Services Health Care Professionals Insurance, Health State Employees State Employee Health Plan Mandate Actuarial Analysis Health Benefit Plan Mandate Local Mandate Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)