Senate Health Committee advances SB 331 to shift pediatric hearing-aid coverage to large health plans

The Senate Health Committee advanced SB 331, authored by Senator Menjivar, to require coverage of pediatric hearing aids through large health care plans and set a $3,000 per-beneficiary limit and a coinsurance cap of 10%.

Menjivar told the committee the bill is a narrower approach than previous efforts, focused on individuals covered by large plans while the state awaits federal action on small-plan coverage. "It provides a limit of $3,000 coverage only for hearing aids," the author said, and noted the bill aligns coverage and cost‑sharing terms with existing plan contracts and the Knox Keene Act.

Family members and professional advocates urged approval. Johanna Wunderly, who identified herself as "a parent of 4 deaf and hard of hearing children," said, "it's time to let California kids hear," and thanked negotiators for the 10% cap. Nora Angelus of Children Now said she was a proud cosponsor, and a representative of the California Academy of Audiology expressed strong support after recent amendments.

Committee members described the measure as important to early childhood development and said shifting coverage to large plans would reduce state program costs. A motion that the assembly amendments be concurred in was made (mover: Senator Smallwood Cuevas) and, after roll calls, the committee recorded a unanimous committee vote and moved the bill out of committee.

Next steps: The committee recorded the vote and the Chair announced the bill was "out" of committee; the transcript does not specify a committee referral date or the bill's next calendar placement.