Every health care service plan contract which provides for the surgical procedure known as a laryngectomy and which is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1993, shall include coverage for prosthetic devices to restore a method of speaking for the patient incident to the laryngectomy.
Coverage for prosthetic devices shall be subject to the deductible and coinsurance conditions applied to the laryngectomy and all other terms and conditions applicable to other benefits. As used in this section, “laryngectomy” means the removal of all or part of the larynx for medically necessary reasons, as determined by a licensed physician and surgeon.
Any provision in any contract issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 1993, which is in conflict with this section shall be of no force or effect.
As used in this section, “prosthetic devices” means and includes the provision of initial and subsequent prosthetic devices, including installation accessories, pursuant to an order of the patient’s physician and surgeon. “Prosthetic devices” does not include electronic voice producing machines.
(Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 808, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1993.)