Ways to Pay for Your Hearing Aids
According to Hearing Loss Association of America, a total of 28 million Americans have hearing loss. Hearing aids are able to help as many as 95 percent of them. But statistics show not even half of them are using hearing aids. People with hearing loss should have used hearing aids for their own benefits.
The price of a hearing aid can range from a few hundred dollars to as high as $5,000, depending on the models and the types. Most people with hearing problem are paying for their own hearing devices with their own money. If you are diagnosed with hearing loss and a hearing aid is what you need but couldn’t afford them, here are some helps on how to pay for your hearing aids.
1. First consult your health insurance company. The fact is hearing aids are not covered by insurance companies in most cases. But some insurance companies do pay a portion of the cost depending on their policies and state laws. The policies can vary from companies to companies and from states to states.
For example, a new legislation in New Jersey which was enacted in January 2009 required all health insurers to pay for medically-necessary hearing aids. The coverage is as much as $1000 per device. Under the new legislation, all people age 15 years old and under with hearing problem in New Jersey are able to claim the cost of their hearing aids from state-regulated insurance companies.
Besides, some adults with hearing loss who require hearing aids are able to get their devices paid up by insurance companies under the Federal Employee Health Benefits.
2. If your health insurance doesn’t have coverage for your hearing aids, you could try state’s Medicaid plan. Most purchases of hearing aids are covered by state Medicaid plans but they have conditions such as only those in the lower income group are eligible or only those with severe hearing loss will get the reimbursement.
Therefore, you should check with a local social service agency or the sate Medicaid program as eligibility requirements for hearing aids coverage vary widely.
3. Next evaluate if you can be considered as a veteran. You are most likely in the veteran status if you have served in the military before. If you are eligible, you should take advantage of the free hearing aids provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The fact about the free hearing aids is that it comes with strict conditions such as candidates with hearing loss caused by military services or veteran with severe disabilities will only be considered.
4. If you have run out of all the above options, you can try social services or some non-profit organizations serving the poor, deaf or those with disabilities in your community. These organizations usually have connections with low-cost clinics, hearing aid banks, charitable funds and state assistance programs. They have higher chances of getting a free hearing aid for you if you can show evidence of financial need. For senior citizens, they are more likely to get free hearing aids in view of their age and disability to work. If you are of working age, you might still be able to get a subsidized hearing aid if you are willing to work with a vocational rehabilitation agency.
Moreover, a national non-profit agency called Hear Now is a specialized program connected with the Starkey Hearing Foundation to help low income people who require financial assistance to acquire hearing aids. Hear Now can be reached at the following webpage, http://www.sotheworldmayhear.org/hearnow/.
5. Words of advice, before getting the help of any of the above options, you should have a documented history of your medical reports stating your hearing loss which can only be helped with a hearing aid. These medical reports are usually required by these organizations or programs as proof of your medical condition.
Besides, it’s recommended to have evidence of financial need when you are applying for free hearing devices. Evidence such as unemployment or laid off letters are solid reason for you to be eligible for free hearing aids.
November 1st, 2010 at 9:31 pm
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