The reason most insurance companies say they don't offer coverage is because, according to them, hearing aids are not an essential medical device, they are considered “elective.” However, more than 50 percent of people over 75 with hearing loss may disagree. In most cases, the government's health care program, Medicare, will not offer coverage for hearing aids. This is because it only covers general services. It does not cover tinnitus or devices, which are not considered a medical necessity in terms of treatment.
However, hearing aids are covered by the vast majority of Medicare Advantage plans. Children with speech and language problems who have hearing loss are automatically entitled to a subsidy up to 12 years of age. Currently, there are only five states that require insurance companies to provide hearing aid coverage for both children and adults. The sooner you address the symptoms of hearing loss, the more likely you are to avoid irreversible damage.
Up to age 21, children and students can purchase a variety of hearing aids and accessories through the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA). We also recommend reviewing the financial assistance page of HLAA, the Hearing Loss Association of America. For example, Kaiser Permanente offers a hearing aid benefit with an in-ear credit option available every 36 months. If your insurance doesn't cover your hearing aids, it will help to talk to a hearing aid specialist today.
At the moment, only about 20 states require health insurance companies to cover partial or full coverage of children's hearing aids. If you can't get a third party to help you pay for your hearing aids, you may want to consider programs that offer short-term loans or payment plans. Considering that much of the hearing loss experienced around the world is age-related, this may not be a relief or benefit for many people, but it is something worth looking into. When you consider how dramatically hearing aids can influence a person's health and happiness, it's hard to understand how insurers can say they're not essential and don't deserve insurance coverage.
Hearing aids are classified as elective and therefore considered something that is selected rather than considered necessary. It is important to know why in order to take steps to improve the quality of life of people with hearing loss. These programs lend or provide text telephones (TTY), amplified telephones, and other equipment free of charge to residents with hearing loss or other disabilities who require it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 37 million people suffer from hearing loss, and that number only increases as the population ages.
