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HR 4241 108th Congress House Health Employee health benefits Federal employees Finance and Financial Sector Government Operations and Politics Government employees' health insurance Health insurance Hearing aids Labor and Employment

Helping America Hear Act of 2004

Introduced: April 28, 2004 Introduced by: Lynch, Stephen F. Democratic · Massachusetts See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 21, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization.
May 14, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
May 6, 2004
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Apr 28, 2004
Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 28, 2004
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Helping America Hear Act of 2004 - Requires each Federal health benefits plan to include coverage for the provision of at least two hearing aids every three years, except that this provision shall not be construed as requiring the payment under such plan in any three-year period of more than $2,000 on hearing aids with respect to any individual.

Amends: (1) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide that if a group health plan provides benefits with respect to hospital and surgical expenses, the plan (and any health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with such a plan) shall provide coverage for the provision of at least two hearing aids every three years, except that this provision shall not be construed as requiring the payment under such plan in any three-year period of more than $2,000 on hearing aids with respect to any individual; and (2) the Public Health Service Act to make the above ERISA provision applicable to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in the individual market in the same manner as they apply to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in connection with a group health plan in the small or large group market.

What's happening now May 21, 2004

Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4241: Helping America Hear Act of 2004. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4241/
MLA
"H.R. 4241: Helping America Hear Act of 2004." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4241/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4241, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4241/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4241: Helping America Hear Act of 2004](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-4241/)
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