Hearing aids and Insurance

Nearly 50 million American citizens experience some form of hearing loss, making it essential to know your options if you need to seek treatment for hearing loss. While many insurance providers are beginning to offer coverage for hearing aids, you may still find it difficult to get the policy you need and want.To help you get an idea of your options here's all you need to know about hearing aids and insurance.

How to know if you need a hearing aid

If you currently experience hearing loss, then you might need a hearing aid. However, hearing aids are not always necessary, and the hearing loss could be temporary due to illness or lifestyle choice. 

Before identifying which hearing aid is the right one for you, arrange a check-up to identify any other causes that could result in hearing loss. This check-up will help you determine whether a hearing aid is the correct step.

How to get a hearing aid

Before obtaining a hearing aid, you must first undertake a hearing test which can be completed by a hearing instrument specialist (HIS). Following this, the HIS will recommend the next step depending on what the results of the test are. 

If they decide you need a hearing aid, then it's time to find out if your state is one of the few where hearing aids are provided under insurance. These states include: 

• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Illinois
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island

There are other states which provide insurance for hearing aid coverage – either full or partial – for children, so look into this if it is your child who experiences hearing loss. 

How to get insurance 

If your state is not one of the five states that provide hearing aid coverage, then it's time to research how to get insurance. When insurance is not available, many people will convince themselves that they don't really need a hearing aid, but this can make the hearing loss worse and could result in irreversible side effects. Considering the longevity of a decent hearing aid, you must do what you can to obtain one. 

If you are considered a young adult, which means anyone between 18 and 21, Medicaid can offer coverage for some of the cost of the hearing aid such as the diagnosis. However, anyone over 21 years old is not eligible for this coverage. 

Likewise, the Veteran's Association will also help provide hearing aids, but this is only possible if you are a veteran of the US Forces. 

Alternative options

That's not to say that obtaining coverage is impossible, though. Here are some of the alternative options available for anyone over the age of 21 or not a veteran. 

Non-profit organizations

There are several non-profit organizations dedicated to assisting with the coverage of hearing aid costs, or even the supply. These organizations include the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), and they can direct you to similar services that offer financial assistance. 

The assistance available includes reduced costs for hearing aids or supplying you with a used or refurbished aid. 

Trial periods

A trial period allows you to get an idea of whether a hearing aid is for you without the upfront cost. Typically, this is covered by your HIS under a written agreement. While using it, you can see whether it is right for you and record your experiences. At the end of the trial period, you can decide whether a hearing aid is the correct choice. Even if you decide the hearing aid is not suitable for you, at least you can be sure without needing to pay the cost for a full hearing aid. 

Care credit

Care Credit is a fantastic way to help you obtain a variety of medical treatments that are not covered by insurance, and this includes hearing aids. Signing up requires a credit check, and if you pass this check, you can use the Credit Care system to help with purchasing hearing aids. 

Care Credit can also help with any family hearing loss, so even if you are not the one experiencing hearing loss, someone in your family can find the coverage and support they need. 

Unions 

Workers unions are another avenue to explore. However, not all unions will cover these costs, so it's worth checking with your union head before relying on these benefits when looking for a hearing aid. 

Learn more

If you want to learn more about Sound Choice Hearing and along with additional information regarding insurance and your hearing aid, you can get in touch at (505) 565-7960.