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SB 331CALIFORNIASession 20252026State Billfiled

High Impact

California SB 331 requires large group health plans to cover hearing aids for children under 21

Original title: Health care coverage: hearing aids.

Record date · September 4, 2026

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Starting January 1, 2028, large group health insurance plans in California must provide coverage for medically necessary hearing aids and related services for enrollees under 21 years of age. Plans are permitted to cap the coverage at $3,000 per individual hearing aid device.

Why it matters

This bill expands insurance mandates for pediatric hearing care, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs for families with large group health plans while establishing a new regulatory requirement for insurers.

Who It Would Affect

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

Directly affected

enrollees under 21 years of age

They become eligible for mandated insurance coverage for medically necessary hearing aids under large group plans.

Directly affected

large group health care service plans

They are required to include coverage for hearing aids and related services in their contracts.

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

Does this bill cover hearing aids for adults?

No, the mandate specifically applies to enrollees and insureds under 21 years of age.

Is there a limit on how much the insurance company has to pay?

Yes, the bill allows plans to limit the coverage to $3,000 per individual hearing aid device.

When does this requirement take effect?

The requirement applies to large group health plans issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2028.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.

Version history & redline

6 versions on file

Official version history is partial: 6 linked texts are unavailable or incomplete. Source links remain available below.

Comparing 05/01/25 - Amended Senate → 05/23/25 - Amended Senate

removed addedOfficial text

The text diff for this stage has not been computed yet.

OpenStates mirror retained for redline only; official linked text was unavailable

Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Department of Managed Health Care, Let California Kids Hear Act, United States Department of Health and Human Services and 1 more

OrganizationDepartment of Managed Health Care“Regulates health care service plans under the Knox-Keene Act.”Map →

otherLet California Kids Hear Act“Official name of SB 331.”Map →

OrganizationUnited States Department of Health and Human Services“Approves essential health benefits benchmark plans.”Map →

OrganizationDepartment of Insurance“Regulates health insurers in California.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level

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