Insurance: health benefits; hearing aids for children; require coverage for. Amends 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.100 - 500.8302) by adding sec. 3406z.

This bill requires health insurance providers in Michigan to cover hearing aids for children under 19 who have been medically evaluated and referred by a specialist. Under the new rules, insurers must pay up to $3,000 for every pair of hearing aids purchased every three years, with the amount adjusted annually based on inflation. The coverage applies only to devices selected by an audiologist after a specific evaluation process, and patients may choose more expensive models if they are willing to pay the difference out of pocket. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, but it will not become active unless a separate related bill is also passed.