SECTION 1. Section 9A of chapter 118E of the General Laws, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-

(16) Medical benefits provided under this section shall include coverage for auditory implant systems, including the surgery necessary to place such systems, in children, as well as for post-surgery services including audiology programming, external device updates, and speech therapy support.

SECTION 2.   Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 108J the following section:-

Section 108K.   An individual policy of accident and sickness insurance issued pursuant to section 108 or group policy accident and sickness insurance issued pursuant to section 110 shall provide coverage for auditory implant systems, including the surgery necessary to place such systems, in children, as well as for post-surgery services including audiology programming, external device updates, and speech therapy support.

SECTION 3.   Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8AA the following section:-

Section 8BB.   Any contract, except contracts providing supplemental coverage to medicare or other governmental programs, between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan which shall be delivered or issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall provide, as a basic benefit to all individual subscribers and members within the commonwealth and to all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth, for expense for auditory implant systems, including the surgery necessary to place such systems, in children, as well as for post-surgery services including audiology programming, external device updates, and speech therapy support.

SECTION 4 .   Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4AA the following section:-

Section 4BB.   Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement that shall be delivered, issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall provide as benefits to all individual subscribers within the commonwealth an all persons included in section 4C, coverage for auditory implant systems, including the surgery necessary to place such systems, in children, as well as for post-surgery services including audiology programming, external device updates, and speech therapy support.

SECTION 5.   Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4S the following section:

Section 4T.   Any health maintenance contract shall provide coverage for auditory implant systems, including the surgery necessary to place such systems, in children, as well as for post-surgery services including audiology programming, external device updates, and speech therapy support.