Ally’s Act
Sponsored By: Senator Curtis, John R. [R-UT]
Introduced
Summary
Requires uniform minimum coverage for hearing implants and related devices across federally regulated private health plans. It would make group and individual plans cover auditory implants and external sound processors, upkeep and repairs, upgrades every five years, hearing assessments, related surgery and postoperative audiology, and aural rehabilitation.
Show full summary
- Families and people with qualifying hearing loss would get clearer access to implants, processors, maintenance, repairs, adhesives or softbands, assessments, surgery, and rehabilitation when a physician or qualified audiologist finds medical necessity.
- Employers, plan sponsors, and insurers would have to apply the same cost-sharing and treatment limits for these hearing items as for other medical and surgical benefits, and follow the rule across the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and the tax code.
- Audiologists and surgeons would face fewer medical-necessity denials because plans could not limit coverage when a physician or qualified audiologist determines need.
- Applies to plan years beginning January 1, 2026.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More hearing device coverage for patients
This bill would require group and individual health plans to cover auditory implants and related care for qualifying people. Covered items would include cochlear and bone-conduction implants, external sound processors, surgery, hearing and preoperative assessments, aural rehabilitation, repairs, maintenance, adhesive adapters, and softband headbands. Plans would have to allow replacements or upgrades every 5 years if an upgrade is not available. Plans would have to treat cost-sharing and visit limits for these items no more restrictively than for other medical and surgical benefits. This would apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
Grandfathered health plan status changes
This bill would add the new hearing-device coverage rule to the list used to test ACA grandfathered plans. Plans that claim grandfathered status could lose that status when the new requirement applies. Losing grandfathered status can change what employers can offer or how plans are run. This would apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Curtis, John R. [R-UT]
UT • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/5/2026
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
ME • R
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
GA • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov