Hearing Aids – Too Expensive?
One of the biggest complaints that both the deaf and hard of hearing ordinary people is the high cost of hearing aids. Hearing people whose hearing losses are not severe enough for cochlear implants must wear hearing aids. The problem is that hearing aids are not usually covered by health insurance plans, but are cochlear implants.
A cochlear implant is a prosthesis considered by private insurance companies, but headphones are not. For example, the paper CIGNA HealthCare coverage position number 0190: cochlear implants and auditory brainstem (Revised 5/15/2007) states: “The cochlear implant is an electronic prosthesis that stimulates the cells of the spiral ganglion auditory for provide a sense of sound to people with hearing disabilities. ” At the same time, the coverage of Cigna Position Number 0093: Headphones (Revised 5/15/2007) states: “The headphones are specifically excluded in most CIGNA HealthCare benefit plans.”
Medicare also does not cover hearing aids (to see the full Medicare statement on non-coverage of routine examinations and hearing aids, go to Medicare.gov ’s Page cover).
Why the headphones are not covered
One reason hearing aids are not covered because it is pure numbers. There are many more hard of hearing people that deaf people who can benefit from cochlear implants. People can lose their hearing as they age and need hearing aids. Things could change because of technology improvements cochlear implant that allows hard of hearing people to use the implants.
Many can not afford hearing aids
The problem is that hearing aids can be quite expensive. There is a dizzying array of headphones available today, and better performance are the most expensive. Every now and then, someone e-mails me asking for help for hearing aids for themselves or a child. I have met with parents of hard of hearing children who are bitter over the fact that cochlear implants are often covered by insurance, while the headphones are not.
Seniors without headphones
In May 1999 the National Council on Aging survey of seniors showed that 55% of costs cited as a reason for not using headphones. The survey also found that untreated hearing loss has “serious emotional and social.”
Limited help for hearing aids
Some nonprofit organizations and service organizations (such as the Lions Club) to help people, especially children, get a headset. There are also banks used to hearing aids.
Basic analog hearing aids have become more affordable as technology declines, but many people whose hearing loss require more expensive advanced technology of hearing aids can not afford them. Some people have used the Internet to purchase new and used headphones at your own risk.
My personal experience
Even I struggled with the high cost of hearing aids. When my insurance does not cover hearing aids, I wondered if it was worth spending thousands of dollars for the upgrade. Due to a progressive loss, I had to keep buying more powerful aids. After the last purchase of hearing aids, told the audiologist, “That’s it. I can not afford to keep doing this every five or six years. If I lost more hearing, I’m not buying another round of aid.” Having lost more audience, I did stop. This was my personal choice.
My opinion on the hearing aid costs
Deaf and hard of hearing people, as well as parents of deaf and hard of hearing children, should not have to resort to charitable organizations for a basic device that is so essential to the operation. If cochlear implants are covered by insurance, hearing aids should be, too. In my opinion, a cochlear implant is essentially a surgically implanted hearing aid. Although a cochlear implant functions differently than a hearing aid, both cochlear implants and hearing aids serve a similar purpose – helping their users to listen to. Manufacturers are entitled to recover its research and development costs, but the headset should be priced more reasonably.
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