Hearing Aids for Low-income Seniors Act

BILL NO. 42

(as introduced)

3rd Session, 62nd General Assembly
Nova Scotia
65 Elizabeth II, 2016



Private Member's Bill



Hearing Aids for Low-income Seniors Act



Karla MacFarlane
Pictou West



First Reading: October 21, 2016

(Explanatory Note)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

Explanatory Note

This Bill provides for financial assistance for Nova Scotia residents over the age of 65 who require a hearing aid for long-term hearing loss.

An Act to Provide for Affordable
Hearing Aids for Low-income Seniors

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 This Act may be cited as the Hearing Aids for Low-income Seniors Act.

2 Section 17 of Chapter 197 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Health Services and Insurance Act, as amended by Chapter 20 of the Acts of 1992 and Chapter 7 of the Acts of 2011, is further amended by adding immediately after subsection (2) the following subsections:

(3) Subject to subsection (3A), the Governor in Council shall make regulations on or before March 31, 2017, respecting the MSI plan requiring the funding of 75% of the cost of a hearing aid up to a maximum of

(a) $500 for one; and

(b) $1,000 for two,

every five years for residents of the Province who

(c) are over the age of 65 years;

(d) have

(i) an income of $18,000 or less, if single, or

(ii) a household income of $21,000 or less, if married; and

(e) have long-term hearing loss requiring the use of a hearing aid for a minimum of six months, which hearing loss has been confirmed by a provider.

(3A) The money required for the purpose of subsection (3) must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.

3 (1) Subsection 71(3) of Chapter 44 of the Acts of 2012, the Insured Health Services Act, is amended by adding immediately after clause (c) the following clause:

(ca) subject to subsection (3A), requiring the funding of 75% of the cost of a hearing aid up to a maximum of

(i) $500 for one, and

(ii) $1,000 for two,

every five years for residents of the Province who

(iii) are over the age of 65 years,

(iv) are insured persons,

(v) have

(A) an income of $18,000 or less, if single, or

(B) a household income of $21,000 or less, if married, and

(vi) have long-term hearing loss requiring the use of a hearing aid for a minimum of six months, which hearing loss has been confirmed by a designated service provider.

(2) Section 71 of Chapter 44 is further amended by adding immediately after subsection (3) the following subsection:

(3A) The money required for the purpose of clause (3)(ca) must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.

 

This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2016 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created October 21, 2016. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.

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