|  | 
         
            |  | 
         
            |  | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | 
         
            |  | AN ACT | 
         
            |  | relating to health benefit plan coverage of hearing aids and | 
         
            |  | cochlear implants for certain individuals. | 
         
            |  | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
         
            |  | SECTION 1.  Section 1367.253(a), Insurance Code, is amended | 
         
            |  | to read as follows: | 
         
            |  | (a)  A health benefit plan must provide coverage for the cost | 
         
            |  | of a medically necessary hearing aid or cochlear implant and | 
         
            |  | related services and supplies for a covered individual who is 25 | 
         
            |  | [ 18] years of age or younger. | 
         
            |  | SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only | 
         
            |  | to a health benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed | 
         
            |  | on or after January 1, 2022.  A health benefit plan delivered, | 
         
            |  | issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2022, is governed | 
         
            |  | by the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of | 
         
            |  | this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. | 
         
            |  | SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |