REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF MANDATING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR HEARING AIDS.

SCR 151 is a procedural resolution requesting the Hawaii Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of mandating health insurance coverage for hearing aids, as specified in S.B. 1494 (2025). The resolution requires the Auditor to analyze factors including the number of residents affected by hearing loss, current insurance coverage standards, replacement frequency for hearing aids, medical guidelines for care, and hearing aid technology. This assessment is mandated by Hawaii law before any such coverage requirement can be enacted, to evaluate impacts on both individuals and insurers. The findings will inform the legislature’s decision on S.B. 1494, which proposes a minimum $1,500 coverage per hearing-impaired ear every 36 months.