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@ken82 My former audiologist mentioned to me that "...we are doing this to ourselves" when I asked about the OTC hearing aids that will soon be flooding the market. Audiologists did not support the OTC bill when it was first introduced. It's not easy to research hearing aids from the manufacturers websites. There's very little information. I've always wanted to see an MSRP (manufacturers suggested retail price) but that may limit the amount of money that a hearing health care professional could charge for a device. Most people do not research hearing aids and rely on the audiologist for their expertise. I get frustrated when I hear another horror story. Despite the negativity, there are a lot of reputable hearing health care professionals out there. The OTC's are only targeted to people with mild to moderate loss but may benefit people with more profound loss, which I have. I hope that this will bring the cost of professionally fitted hearing aids down. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Tony in Michigan
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Another issue with cost relates to supply and demand. Data tells us that fewer than 20% of the people who could benefit from hearing aids have them. Cost is a major issue, so is denial. (You know...all the ads that tell us to be ashamed of our hearing loss, but won't be with their 'invisible' products!) Stigma is a real problem. If that 80% bought hearing aids the price would go down. I remember paying over $100 for a hand calculator in the 70s. Today you get them free or for a few bucks at Office Depot. Look at the cost of flat screen TVs and computers. Why are hearing aids so expensive? They just keep going up, up, up!