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Can we get Medicare to cover the cost of hearing aids & services?

Posted by Julie, Volunteer Mentor @julieo4, Aug 23, 2021

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/

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Hearing Loss Support Group.

Joanne Narna | @mothermary1 | Aug 26, 2021

I think every woman and man who serves his country deserves free eyeglasses, hearing aids, drugs, therapy anything they need. If you are fortunate and can buy your own or get a plan that gives you a discount it’s a bonus. I paid 5000 out of pocket for my husbands. It took a while to pay it off but many places offer interest free payment plans. I don’t believe anyone who can’t hear and could with the aid of a device deserves it, no matter how you get it. It’s the USA,we help those that are in need.

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Mentor
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Aug 26, 2021
In reply to @williambill "Julie : Yes, it's always cost. When the Medicare law became effective in 1966 hearing aid..." + (show)
@williambill

Julie : Yes, it's always cost.
When the Medicare law became effective in 1966 hearing aid costs were not significant and not included in the law. Each time there has been a push to include a new coverage, whether it be hearing aids, dental, vision, Huntington's disease, etc. the cost has persuaded Congress not to expand coverage in most cases. The biggest exception was Part D coverage which became effective in 1996 and has, unfortunately, ballooned in cost so much that drug price reduction is part of the Biden budget plan for the coming year. And new coverage for hearing aids, dental and vision are also included in that plan. All subject to debate in Congress.
With respect to insurance plans covering hearing aids there has been a trend in recent years, as described in this thread, for coverage by Medicare Advantage plans, other types of insurance plans, and the VA. Usually not 100% coverage but significant savings off list prices.

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Only a few administrations ago, politicians working on healthcare plans categorized hearing aids as 'unnecessary cosmetic procedures/products'. It has taken a mighty fight by people with hearing loss to advocate and educate to erase that.

Now, insurance or no, many of us question the extremely high cost of hearing aids. Is it possible that all the false advertising proclaiming miracle results has created an image that has led to some distrust of the hearing aid industry among those in the insurance industry?

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williambill | @williambill | Aug 26, 2021
In reply to @julieo4 "Only a few administrations ago, politicians working on healthcare plans categorized hearing aids as 'unnecessary cosmetic..." + (show)
@julieo4

Only a few administrations ago, politicians working on healthcare plans categorized hearing aids as 'unnecessary cosmetic procedures/products'. It has taken a mighty fight by people with hearing loss to advocate and educate to erase that.

Now, insurance or no, many of us question the extremely high cost of hearing aids. Is it possible that all the false advertising proclaiming miracle results has created an image that has led to some distrust of the hearing aid industry among those in the insurance industry?

Jump to this post

Julie : Only an insurance company executive can answer your question about "distrust".
However, in recent years hearing aid insurance coverage has been growing from Medicare Advantage Plans, Add-ons to Medicare Supplement Plans, Medicaid Plans, Individual Plans and the VA. As I look at the early comments in this thread there is a lot of confusion about the availability of hearing aid coverage. So many folks are trying to figure to out on their own. If they bought their Supplement or Advantage Plan through an insurance broker that is the person to whom they should turn to get good advice and information. Unfortunately, if they bought their Medicare Insurance Plan directly from an insurance company, not through an insurance broker, they will probably still have to continue to figure it out on their own.
When I have time I'll send information about trends in hearing aid industry - perhaps some good news coming. After sending three messages today I an now behind on my own work and need to catch-up !

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1 reply
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Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Aug 26, 2021
In reply to @williambill "Julie : Only an insurance company executive can answer your question about "distrust". However, in recent..." + (show)
@williambill

Julie : Only an insurance company executive can answer your question about "distrust".
However, in recent years hearing aid insurance coverage has been growing from Medicare Advantage Plans, Add-ons to Medicare Supplement Plans, Medicaid Plans, Individual Plans and the VA. As I look at the early comments in this thread there is a lot of confusion about the availability of hearing aid coverage. So many folks are trying to figure to out on their own. If they bought their Supplement or Advantage Plan through an insurance broker that is the person to whom they should turn to get good advice and information. Unfortunately, if they bought their Medicare Insurance Plan directly from an insurance company, not through an insurance broker, they will probably still have to continue to figure it out on their own.
When I have time I'll send information about trends in hearing aid industry - perhaps some good news coming. After sending three messages today I an now behind on my own work and need to catch-up !

Jump to this post

I look forward to getting more information from you to share with HLAA. HLAA has advocates working on Capitol Hill in this regard. HLAA members all over the country have been frustrated by the lack of coverage in both insurance and Medicare plans. Right now, I am working with a Medicare Advantage Plan broker to assure that my cochlear implant processor upgrade will be covered this coming year. Six years ago I paid $1500 of the $15000 cost of the new processor. I know others who have paid nothing. That will also mean a new compatible hearing aid, so I hope I can get the right plan. The problem many of us have is that the brokers don't know what we are talking about when we mention cochlear implants or other devices that go beyond hearing aids.

HLAA is a consumer based organization that educates, shares information, provides peer support and does advocacy. Hard of hearing people are a difficult population to reach because people don't like to admit they have hearing loss. http://www.hearingloss.org

Again, thank you for your input. LOL. I have to get on with my 'work' too. 🙂

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