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Can we get Medicare to cover the cost of hearing aids & services?
The high cost of hearing aids prohibits many people from seeking hearing help. Hearing loss issues have been put on the back burner by decision makers for a variety of reasons. Today's hearing aids are far different from those of even a few decades ago. Isn't it time to rally behind the movement to include them in Medicare?
You can help by contacting your legislators to let them know this is important to you. See information from The Hearing Loss Assn. of America below:
Action Alert: Medicare Coverage of Hearing Aids-Congress needs to hear from you.
HLAA has been meeting with members of Congress, encouraging them to vote YES! to expand Medicare to include hearing aids and services. New legislation is coming up soon that we hope will include a provision for hearing health care under Medicare. That would mean for the first time, people who rely on Medicare to pay their medical bills would also be able to turn to Medicare to cover the cost of hearing aids and related services.
You will find more information along with instructions on how to contact your legislators at the link below:
https://www.hearingloss.org/medicare-coverage-hearing-aids-contact-congress/
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Thanks for sharing, I remember being shocked when my mother told me she had to pay for her hearing aids because Medicare does not cover. Now I am on Medicare and someday will face same challenge.
I have sent emails to MN representatives.
Laurie
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4 ReactionsHearing loss impacts every aspect of life and has a negative efect on all social and personal relationships.
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5 ReactionsI'm going to contact my representatives about this important issue, for sure!
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4 Reactionsmost Medicare Advantage plans cover hearing aids up to a 50% discount.
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1 ReactionThank you for following through on contacting your MN representatives. If we who have hearing loss don't get on this bandwagon, no one else is going to do it for us. It's time for US to speak up and stop refusing to talk about 'it'.
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1 ReactionThanks for pointing this out. I was going to mention that our plan covers $2500 once every 5 years. Not perfect but better than before we were on Medicare, when it covered nothing.
Sue
Yes it does. Far more than people realize until it affects them personally. Nearly 18% of the United States population has some degree of hearing loss, and that number is growing. Learning to cope with some of the negative results is very important to our overall health. Technology plays a big role in providing support, but that doesn't stop with hearing aids. That's where it begins. Assistive technology that goes beyond hearing aids goes much farther, yet many who could benefit don't know what is available. Nor do they know they have rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act for 'communication access'. There's so much to learn. Are you familiar with HLAA? http://www.hearingloss.org
Please let us know which Medicare Advantage plans cover this cost. I've had 3 different plans since being eligible for Medicare and none of them have covered hearing aids UNLESS I purchase a specific brand they will cover. I have a profound hearing loss, so the type of hearing aid I need does not fall within that framework. I pay full price. Thankfully, my cochlear implant processors have been 90% covered.
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1 ReactionIs there a specification on the brand of hearing aids it covers?
Thank you! If everyone with hearing loss would do that things would change quickly. We are a pretty large constituency.