SB2838 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)

INS-HEARING CARE PLAN
Last Action
3/11/2026 - Senate: Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 12, 2026
Senate Sponsors
Sen. Julie A. Morrison
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
215 ILCS 5/Art. XLVIII heading new  
215 ILCS 5/1800 new  
215 ILCS 5/1805 new  
215 ILCS 5/1810 new  
815 ILCS 505/2MMMM new  
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to create the Hearing Care Plan Contracts Article. Provides that no hearing care organization that issues, delivers, amends, or renews a hearing care plan on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall issue a contract that requires a hearing instrument professional, as a condition of participation in the hearing care plan, to provide items or services to an enrollee at a fee set by the hearing care plan unless the items and services are covered items or covered services under the hearing care plan. Exempts de minimis reimbursements. Establishes notice and disclosure provisions for a hearing instrument professional who chooses not to accept as payment an amount set by a hearing care plan for items and services that are not covered and other hearing care plan contract requirements. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2027, to conduct business in the State, a hearing care organization must register with the Department of Insurance and submit the specified registration materials. Requires the registrant to report any specified change in information to the Department in writing within 60 days after the change occurs. Sets forth provisions concerning issuance and expiration of a registration certificate. Grants the Department of Insurance rulemaking authority over the registration provisions. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make it an unlawful practice under the meaning of the Act for any person to violate the Hearing Plan Contracts Article of the Illinois Insurance Code. Effective January 1, 2027.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
215 ILCS 5/Art. XLVIII heading new  
215 ILCS 5/1800 new  
215 ILCS 5/1805 new  
215 ILCS 5/1810 new  
815 ILCS 505/2MMMM new  
Adds reference to:
215 ILCS 5/356z.88 new  
215 ILCS 5/370u new  
215 ILCS 5/511.119 new  
215 ILCS 125/5-3  
215 ILCS 130/4003  
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Prohibits a hearing care organization that is an issuer or administrator of a hearing care plan or discounted hearing care plan issued, delivered, amended, or renewed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act from issuing or renewing a contract that requires a hearing instrument professional, as a condition of participation in the hearing care plan or discounted hearing care plan, to provide items or services to an enrollee at a fee set by the hearing care plan or discounted hearing care plan unless the items and services are covered items or covered services under the hearing care plan or discounted hearing care plan. Provides that a hearing instrument professional who chooses not to accept as payment an amount set by a hearing care plan or discounted hearing care plan for items and services that are not covered by the hearing care plan or discounted hearing care plan shall comply with the specified notification requirements. Requires hearing care benefits to be communicated in writing by the hearing care organization to an enrollee, prospective enrollee, and the hearing instrument professional. Provides that no hearing care organization or its officers, directors, agents, and employees may represent a discount hearing care benefit as a funded hearing care benefit. Allows a hearing care plan or discounted hearing care plan to provide hearing care benefits that include routine hearing care services and medically necessary diagnostic hearing services in accordance with guidance promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Makes other changes. Amends the Health Maintenance Organization Act and the Limited Health Service Organization Act to conform with the requirements for hearing care plans and discounted hearing care plans. Effective January 1, 2027.
Actions
DateChamberAction
1/13/2026SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Julie A. Morrison
1/13/2026SenateFirst Reading
1/13/2026SenateReferred to Assignments
2/03/2026SenateAssigned to Insurance
3/06/2026SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Julie A. Morrison
3/06/2026SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
3/10/2026SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Insurance
3/10/2026SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted
3/11/2026SenateDo Pass as Amended Insurance; 010-000-000
3/11/2026SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 12, 2026