Hearing aids with no insurance

RonJaxon · 11-13-2009, 10:29 AM

Note: I tried to change the title of this post. It's not a matter of not having insurance. It's a matter of insurance not covering HA's.

As some of you may have read in some of my other posts. I'm getting my CI surgery done next week. But this post is about someone else close to me. My mother.

It's kind of funny that with my mother having a son who's deaf and a daughter who is HOH. That she would be one of those people who have a hard time coming to terms with her own hearing loss. I guess it's different when it comes from a result of old age.

Over the past could of years her hearing has decreased. Our family see the effects it's having on her such as her having the volume of the TV high. Her not knowing when someone is talking to her and so forth. She's been using one of those store bought hearing aids to help hear the TV.

Anyway, when she went with me to one of my appointments to prepare for getting my CI. I made a break through with her about her hearing loss and pretty much made her want to get hearing aids now. But here's the problem. She's retired and her insurance won't cover hearing aids. They'll cover all the tests and such but not the hearing aids itself.

I'm wondering what options she might have. Is there anything we can look into? I remember being at a VFW once and they had a box there for people to donate old hearing aids so I'm guessing that there are some resources out there. Maybe they take old HA's and adjust them to someones needs or something. I'm just trying to find out how I can help my mother. My parents just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary a couple of months ago so I really hope to find a way to help her get hearing aids.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Ron

Eve · 11-13-2009, 10:34 AM

Most insurances don't cover HAs. In fact, I don't know of a single one that does cover them. Which is funny, considering they cover CIs. I'm not sure what kind of resources are available out there. I know medicaid/medicare covers glasses, but HAs???

kokonut · 11-13-2009, 10:38 AM

Eve, I believed that changed in a lot of states now.
State Insurance Mandates for Hearing Aids

**Bottesini** · 11-13-2009, 10:49 AM

Lion's Club. Some states have programs, but I don't know your mother's state.

Eve · 11-13-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokonut

Eve, I believed that changed in a lot of states now.
State Insurance Mandates for Hearing Aids

wow! That is encouraging news, but still only a handful of states that are doing it. I don't think 30% of the states is good enough (especially when MY state is not on the list lol)

**Bottesini** · 11-13-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eve

wow! That is encouraging news, but still only a handful of states that are doing it. I don't think 30% of the states is good enough (especially when MY state is not on the list lol)

It is also mostly restricted to deaf children. Deaf children grow up to be deaf adults, who usually earn less than the hearing parents who are getting this assistance.

How is that fair?

Eve · 11-13-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bottesini

It is also mostly restricted to deaf children. Deaf children grow up to be deaf adults, who usually earn less than the hearing parents who are getting this assistance.

How is that fair?

I think it is an outrage!

kokonut · 11-13-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eve

wow! That is encouraging news, but still only a handful of states that are doing it. I don't think 30% of the states is good enough (especially when MY state is not on the list lol)

Secondly, it comes down to asking/checking your insurance to see if they do pay for hearing aids.

Tousi · 11-13-2009, 11:10 AM

Well, that could be a double-edged sword, too. Too many in government (Feds & States) think that by forcing insurance companies to pay for hearing aids and cochlear implants, especially for the young, that the social problems and the monetary drain spent on deaf ed, SSI, how hearing employers see deafness, etc, etc will evaporate. Fat chance!

**sallylou** · 11-13-2009, 11:18 AM

There are special credit card for hearing aids with a very low rate. The audiologist should be able to provide information. My audiologist said that it's hard for anyone to get one and that now the person must own a house. It's not a good solution when a person has to take one more debt to get HAs. It might be a last resort, though.

deafdude1 · 11-13-2009, 11:28 AM

Look on the internet for cheap HAs. You won't get any fancy features though.

Lighthouse77 · 11-13-2009, 11:29 AM

Lion Club may offered donated hearing aids for her.

**Reba** · 11-13-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bottesini

Lion's Club. Some states have programs, but I don't know your mother's state.

I was going to say the same thing. I believe my Mom got financial help from her state for her hearing aids. When she died we donated her aids and batteries to the Lions Club.

Eileenutah · 11-13-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonJaxon

[I]Note:
I remember being at a VFW once and they had a box there for people to donate old hearing aids so I'm guessing that there are some resources out there. Maybe they take old HA's and adjust them to someones needs or something.

Ron

I have several pair of hearing aids I can no longer use if anyone knows a link where I can mail them. I've used Costco hearing services and found them to be very well priced and excellent service.

**Bottesini** · 11-13-2009, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eileenutah

I have several pair of hearing aids I can no longer use if anyone knows a link where I can mail them. I've used Costco hearing services and found them to be very well priced and excellent service.

2

Mail your used hearing aid to Hear Now, at 6700 Washington Avenue South, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Hear Now is the nonprofit partner of the Starkey Hearing Foundation (see Resources). It forwards collected used hearing aids to Starkey, a hearing aid manufacturer who refurbishes them and contributes them to low-income hearing impaired children and adults around the world.

How To Donate Hearing Aids | eHow.com

Eileenutah · 11-13-2009, 12:17 PM

Thanks for info Botts

**Bottesini** · 11-13-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eileenutah

Thanks for info Botts

You are welcome.

RonJaxon · 11-13-2009, 06:25 PM

Thanks everyone.

I don't see my state on the list of states that do have HA coverage? I'm in Michigan. Any idea where I should find info on my state for this? When I had hearing aids growing up insurance always covered it when I needed a new one or an upgraded one.

Thanks again. I'm going to look around my area for information of course. Right now I'm more concentrating on my own CI surgery next week but this is still something I hope to find a way to help my mother with.

Ron

whatdidyousay! · 11-13-2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonJaxon

Note: I tried to change the title of this post. It's not a matter of not having insurance. It's a matter of insurance not covering HA's.

As some of you may have read in some of my other posts. I'm getting my CI surgery done next week. But this post is about someone else close to me. My mother.

It's kind of funny that with my mother having a son who's deaf and a daughter who is HOH. That she would be one of those people who have a hard time coming to terms with her own hearing loss. I guess it's different when it comes from a result of old age.

Over the past could of years her hearing has decreased. Our family see the effects it's having on her such as her having the volume of the TV high. Her not knowing when someone is talking to her and so forth. She's been using one of those store bought hearing aids to help hear the TV.

Anyway, when she went with me to one of my appointments to prepare for getting my CI. I made a break through with her about her hearing loss and pretty much made her want to get hearing aids now. But here's the problem. She's retired and her insurance won't cover hearing aids. They'll cover all the tests and such but not the hearing aids itself.

I'm wondering what options she might have. Is there anything we can look into? I remember being at a VFW once and they had a box there for people to donate old hearing aids so I'm guessing that there are some resources out there. Maybe they take old HA's and adjust them to someones needs or something. I'm just trying to find out how I can help my mother. My parents just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary a couple of months ago so I really hope to find a way to help her get hearing aids.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Ron

How about council on aging , maybe they can help with the cost of the HA or find some agencies that will help with the cost of a HA. COA help me with the cost of a mouthpiece for my TMJ. and brought me a new A/C .

RonJaxon · 12-10-2009, 04:47 PM

Good news. My mother has an appointment next week to get the mold for her HA. My father just Emailed me to let me know about it. I'm not sure the details about insurance and all that yet. I'll let you know how they are doing it when I find out in case anyone here is looking for ways. But I think it's great that she'll be able to get one.

Ron

Watermelon · 12-10-2009, 05:02 PM

That's great! Hopefully she will get lucky with the mold and not have to redo hers. I"m about to have mine redone... it's a bit like winning the lotto getting the molds just perfect on the first try.

11-13-2009, 10:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
RonJaxon Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 524	Hearing aids with no insurance Note: I tried to change the title of this post. It's not a matter of not having insurance. It's a matter of insurance not covering HA's. As some of you may have read in some of my other posts. I'm getting my CI surgery done next week. But this post is about someone else close to me. My mother. It's kind of funny that with my mother having a son who's deaf and a daughter who is HOH. That she would be one of those people who have a hard time coming to terms with her own hearing loss. I guess it's different when it comes from a result of old age. Over the past could of years her hearing has decreased. Our family see the effects it's having on her such as her having the volume of the TV high. Her not knowing when someone is talking to her and so forth. She's been using one of those store bought hearing aids to help hear the TV. Anyway, when she went with me to one of my appointments to prepare for getting my CI. I made a break through with her about her hearing loss and pretty much made her want to get hearing aids now. But here's the problem. She's retired and her insurance won't cover hearing aids. They'll cover all the tests and such but not the hearing aids itself. I'm wondering what options she might have. Is there anything we can look into? I remember being at a VFW once and they had a box there for people to donate old hearing aids so I'm guessing that there are some resources out there. Maybe they take old HA's and adjust them to someones needs or something. I'm just trying to find out how I can help my mother. My parents just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary a couple of months ago so I really hope to find a way to help her get hearing aids. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Ron

11-13-2009, 10:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bottesini Joe's Friend Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: With Owl Sock Posts: 37,528 Blog Entries: 1	Lion's Club. Some states have programs, but I don't know your mother's state. __________________

11-13-2009, 11:18 AM	#10 (permalink)
sallylou Potterhead and Janeite Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: My own private Idaho Posts: 6,653	There are special credit card for hearing aids with a very low rate. The audiologist should be able to provide information. My audiologist said that it's hard for anyone to get one and that now the person must own a house. It's not a good solution when a person has to take one more debt to get HAs. It might be a last resort, though. __________________

11-13-2009, 11:28 AM	#11 (permalink)
deafdude1 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,269 Blog Entries: 1	Look on the internet for cheap HAs. You won't get any fancy features though. __________________ My reasons for choosing stem cells over CI are numerous. Many thousands have gotten stem cells for all conditions with 90% success rate. I have emailed/contacted stem cell centers, read articles, did my research and know the facts. Chloe got such good results she can hear well without HAs! My hearing loss is the same in both ears. Recent audiogram: 125Hz=55db, 250Hz=70db, 500Hz=90db, 750Hz=110db, 1000Hz-8000Hz=NR at 110db. I discuss my deafness and stem cells in my blog

11-13-2009, 11:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
Lighthouse77 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4,167	Lion Club may offered donated hearing aids for her. __________________ Good thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from.

Today
Deafness	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

11-13-2009, 10:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Eve Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Paradise Posts: 1,518	Most insurances don't cover HAs. In fact, I don't know of a single one that does cover them. Which is funny, considering they cover CIs. I'm not sure what kind of resources are available out there. I know medicaid/medicare covers glasses, but HAs???

11-13-2009, 10:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
kokonut Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 15,348	Eve, I believed that changed in a lot of states now. State Insurance Mandates for Hearing Aids

11-13-2009, 11:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
Tousi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,733	Well, that could be a double-edged sword, too. Too many in government (Feds & States) think that by forcing insurance companies to pay for hearing aids and cochlear implants, especially for the young, that the social problems and the monetary drain spent on deaf ed, SSI, how hearing employers see deafness, etc, etc will evaporate. Fat chance!

11-13-2009, 12:17 PM	#16 (permalink)
Eileenutah Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Utah Posts: 97	Thanks for info Botts

11-13-2009, 06:25 PM	#18 (permalink)
RonJaxon Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 524	Thanks everyone. I don't see my state on the list of states that do have HA coverage? I'm in Michigan. Any idea where I should find info on my state for this? When I had hearing aids growing up insurance always covered it when I needed a new one or an upgraded one. Thanks again. I'm going to look around my area for information of course. Right now I'm more concentrating on my own CI surgery next week but this is still something I hope to find a way to help my mother with. Ron

12-10-2009, 04:47 PM	#20 (permalink)
RonJaxon Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 524	Good news. My mother has an appointment next week to get the mold for her HA. My father just Emailed me to let me know about it. I'm not sure the details about insurance and all that yet. I'll let you know how they are doing it when I find out in case anyone here is looking for ways. But I think it's great that she'll be able to get one. Ron

12-10-2009, 05:02 PM	#21 (permalink)
Watermelon Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 103	That's great! Hopefully she will get lucky with the mold and not have to redo hers. I"m about to have mine redone... it's a bit like winning the lotto getting the molds just perfect on the first try.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode