Assemblyman Aron Wieder announced that he introduced legislation to close a critical gap in health insurance coverage for patients in need of backup cochlear implant devices (A.6314).

“Every New Yorker impacted by severe hearing loss should have the right to continuous access to life-changing cochlear implant devices,” said Wieder. “These devices are essential in helping patients integrate into their highly auditory surroundings and perform daily activities, improving their quality of life significantly. My bill would provide for continuous coverage of backup cochlear implants for the entirety of the patient’s hearing loss treatment.”

Currently, most health insurance plans provide coverage for cochlear implant backup devices only upon the initial implant surgery performed. These implant devices work effectively for about 3 to 5 years before upgrades and replacements are needed. However, patients do not have access to covered backup implant devices while the originals are being repaired. This legislation would provide that an additional set of components that support the functioning of the cochlear implant while such upgrades and replacements are performed must be made available to patients and covered by medical, major medical and comprehensive-type insurance coverage.