Health Insurance - Required Coverage - Hearing Aids

Maryland adults gain hearing aid coverage

Beginning January 1, 2026, the law requires adult hearing aid coverage in qualifying plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland. It covers insurers and nonprofit health service plans providing hospital, medical, or surgical benefits on an expense-incurred basis, plus HMOs providing those benefits. Covered hearing aids must be nondisposable, medically appropriate, and necessary. A licensed audiologist must prescribe, fit, and dispense them, or a licensed hearing aid dispenser must order, fit, and dispense them. Plans may limit benefits to $1,400 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every 36 months, but may offer more. You can choose a higher-priced hearing aid and pay the difference without a financial or contract penalty to the provider.