123rd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1514		LR 205(02)
	An Act To Require Health Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aids
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "     "
	Committee: Insurance and Financial Services
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			2007-08	2008-09	Projections 2009-10	Projections 2010-11
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$54,000	$56,000	$59,000
	Highway Fund		$0	$21,000	$22,000	$23,000
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$54,000	$56,000	$59,000
	Highway Fund		$0	$21,000	$22,000	$23,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	Adding hearing aid coverage to persons age 18 and under with a limit of $1,400 per hearing aid for each hearing impaired ear every 36 months will increase premium costs effective with the contract year beginning July 1, 2008.  The additional employer costs across all funds to the state employee health insurance program is estimated to be approximately $131,000 for fiscal year 2008-09.
	A General Fund appropriation of $54,000 and a Highway Fund allocation of $21,000 are included for the salary plan reserve accounts to fund increases for General Fund and Highway Fund employees.  The costs for employees paid by other funds, including a small amount for the Fund for a Healthy Maine, may require increased allotments as recommended by the State Budget Officer and approved by the Governor.
	Any additional costs to the Bureau of Insurance in the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation in implementing this legislation can be absorbed by the bureau within existing budget resources. This fiscal note does not reflect the additional costs to the private health insurance market.