West Virginia Bill HB 5433 Requires Health Insurance Plans to Cover Hearing Aids Up to $1,400

Original title: Require all state‑regulated health insurance plans to provide meaningful coverage for hearing aids and to cover at least one annual audiological evaluation.

Last action · February 11, 2026: To House FinanceSponsors: Bill Bell and 4 others

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia House Bill 5433 requires all state-regulated health insurance plans, policies, and contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, to cover prescribed hearing aids and related services up to $1,400 per ear every 36 months.

Why it matters

Insured individuals with hearing loss gain mandatory insurance coverage for prescribed hearing devices and annual s, subject to a $1,400 per-ear cap every three years.

Background

State-regulated health insurance mandates require insurers operating within West Virginia to cover specific health services or medical devices under their standard policies. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Individuals covered under state-regulated health insurance plans

Insured individuals gain mandatory insurance coverage for prescribed hearing aids and annual audiological evaluations up to $1,400 per ear every 36 months.

Directly affected

Health care insurers in West Virginia

Insurers must update their policies, plans, or contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, to include coverage for hearing aids and related services.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum amount covered for hearing aids under this bill?

Required coverage is limited to an aggregate of $1,400 per hearing-impaired ear every 36 months.

Are batteries and cords covered?

No, batteries and cords are explicitly excluded from the definition of a hearing aid.

How often can an insured person get replacement hearing aids under the plan?

Plans must provide coverage for replacement hearing aids at least as frequently as every 36 months, or sooner if existing alterations cannot meet the individual's needs.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

4 actions

Feb 11, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Finance
Feb 11, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Feb 11, 2026HouseCommittee
To Finance
Feb 11, 2026HouseIntroduced
Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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