The Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) offers hearing aid coverage to eligible children and youth, ages 0-20, including supplemental coverage for applicants whose other health coverage has a coverage limit of $1,500 or less for hearing aids.

In July 2021 we launched the Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) within the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) for those who do not qualify for hearing aids through CCS or Medi-Cal. HACCP was created to improve access and coverage for children's hearing aids, a shared goal of this proposed bill. This bill would require health plans to cover medically necessary hearing aids for individuals under 21 years of age, up to $3,000 per individual hearing aid without any cost sharing, beginning January 1, 2025.

California has allocated more than $30 million to HACCP while serving fewer than 300 children. Direct service funding has remained largely unspent, provider participation remains limited, administrative barriers persist, and thousands of California children still lack meaningful access to care.

The program, which received $16 million its first year, distributed hearing aids to 39 children and has been harshly criticized by legislators demanding accountability.

Nearly five years after Newsom urged lawmakers to adopt a state-managed alternative rather than mandating private insurers to cover pediatric hearing aids, the Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program had approximately 300 active participants, despite nearly $23 million being spent, as revealed in a report presented last month to a state Senate budget committee.

The Let California Kids Hear campaign’s newsroom notes that Gov. Newsom has vetoed bills to expand insurance coverage for children’s hearing aids and that families and advocates have criticized his reliance on the Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program instead. Coverage on the site describes the governor’s plan as an alternative state program for hearing aid coverage, but does not specify a $23 million launch figure; instead, it highlights concerns that the program is underperforming and that many children remain without adequate coverage.

"Instead, the state created an alternative program that has cost taxpayers more than $30 million while delivering fewer than 300 hearing aids to children since 2021." This opinion piece describes cumulative taxpayer cost exceeding $30 million for the children’s hearing aid program and does not specify a $23 million launch amount.

Gov. Newsom proposed a similar aim. He wants to fund hearing aids for children and teens through California's budget. His budget proposal involves creating a new state program to provide hearing aids for people under the age of 18 and whose family earns low to middle income. The governor's plan will cost an estimated $10 million from the state general fund each year.

California's pediatric hearing aid program spent almost $23 million but has only delivered around 300 hearing aids. Child advocates and legislators are expressing their outrage towards Governor Gavin Newsom as California's program for pediatric hearing aids has reportedly expended tens of millions on administrative costs while providing only a few hundred devices. Nearly five years after Newsom promoted a state-run program instead of requiring private insurers to cover pediatric hearing aids, the Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program has roughly 300 active participants despite the nearly $23 million spent.

Radio station 77 WABC reports: "California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing criticism after reports claimed a state hearing aid program for children spent $23 million over five years while distributing only about 300 hearing aids." It adds: "The numbers have triggered outrage from critics who say the program appears to have spent heavily on administration while helping far fewer children than expected." The article characterizes the $23 million as spending over five years by the pediatric hearing aid program, not as a specific launch amount approved at once.

After years of criticism, California's pediatric hearing aid program reportedly spent nearly $23 million and served about 300 children, according to a report presented to a state Senate budget committee. The article also says the program began after Newsom rejected a private-insurance mandate and instead backed a state-run alternative.

BREAKING: Gavin Newsom launched a $23 million state program to provide hearing aids for kids. Five years later, only 300 hearing aids have been reportedly given out. Critics say the majority of the funds went to "administrative and overhead costs" instead of devices for children who need them.

HACCP was created in 2021 under Governor Gavin Newsom as a budget-based state program to provide hearing aids to children who do not qualify under Medi-Cal or CCS. Public reporting and legislative analyses describe the program’s total spending as roughly $23 million over several years, with only a few hundred children receiving hearing aids through the program.

California made a promise to families in 2021 when lawmakers unanimously approved the Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program. Since the program's launch, California has spent roughly $30 million, of which more than $23 million has gone to administrative costs. Approximately 250 children have actually received hearing aids.

For $23 million, California got 300 hearing aids. Nearly five years ago, Gavin Newsom pushed lawmakers toward a state-run program instead of requiring private insurers to cover pediatric hearing aids. But according to a recent report, that program now has only around 300 active enrolled members despite spending almost $23 million. That works out to roughly $76,000 per enrolled child.

Gavin Newsom’s California spent $23 million on a hearing aid program for kids, but after five years, only 300 hearing aids were reportedly given out.