shootin in the dark ?????

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dreamchaser

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I have been thinking about how expensive it is to keep batteries for a CI. I wonder if there is any funding out there available to help offset that cost? Maybe someone could approach the CI makers, and ask them to create a fund or something.. I know that may sound naieve, but the companies probably make a lot, and it would be good PR for them.

I don't mean to sound stupid here. I am just seeing a need and trying to figure out a way to fill it. Anybody got any ideas? Is there already something out there that addresses these costs?

With the price of gas and everything going up, and the unemployment rate going up, every little bit would help.
 
I know that with the Freedom that one can get the rechargeable battery to use instead of regular batteries. While the cost can be expensive to get one, they pay for themselves over time.

I'm sticking with regular batteries and I can get about a years worth for about 80-90 bucks or so.
 
I pay for batteries out of my own pocket, but I feel its a small price to pay for being able to hear again. I get the 300 pack from Cochlear for $190 and that lasts me about 7 months, as I go through 3 batteries every 2 days with my Freedom. I'm hoping they might come out with a longer-lasting battery in the future. I don't have the $ to go rechargeable at the moment.
 
neecy said:
I pay for batteries out of my own pocket, but I feel its a small price to pay for being able to hear again. I get the 300 pack from Cochlear for $190 and that lasts me about 7 months, as I go through 3 batteries every 2 days with my Freedom. I'm hoping they might come out with a longer-lasting battery in the future. I don't have the $ to go rechargeable at the moment.
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that is exactly what I mean. the rechargables are expensive, and sometimes there is no electricity to recharge, like camping etc. Maybe CI makers could start a fund to help pay for rechargeable batteries. They would get a tax break for it, and good PR. I don't know, but it is worth a thought. They would get a discount from buying batteries buy the bulk price, and maybe offer to those who just can't afford them any other way.. People are raising money to study the mating habits of ants and stuff, so why not create a fund to help CI users?

If the CI companies thought it would give them free publicity and a tax break, they might even consider it.. There I go, being a dreamer again.... still chasin that dream for a better tomorrow for EVERYBODY!
 
dreamchaser said:
I have been thinking about how expensive it is to keep batteries for a CI. I wonder if there is any funding out there available to help offset that cost? Maybe someone could approach the CI makers, and ask them to create a fund or something.. I know that may sound naieve, but the companies probably make a lot, and it would be good PR for them.

I don't mean to sound stupid here. I am just seeing a need and trying to figure out a way to fill it. Anybody got any ideas? Is there already something out there that addresses these costs?

With the price of gas and everything going up, and the unemployment rate going up, every little bit would help.
Click to expand...


Battery costs are just a reality. For a CI or a HA. I've never really concidered it to be unfair. the unfair part was having to deal with the disablity...the inablity to hear correctly or well. The unfair part is having to pay for the HA, I really thouht that over time the price would decrease as it has with other electronics, but it hasn't. Oh well, life isn't fair and we do what we can to equal the odds. If I have to pay for my batteries, which I get through mircro battery, so be it. at least I can hear and much better then before.

If a child is covered under MA (there are tefra or katie beckett waivers in most states) then the batteries are probably covered for both devices.
 
Boult said:
From: Cochlear;
Batteries : Cochlear, Innovator of the Nucleus Freedom cochlear hearing implant system


From Advanced Bionics;
BionicEar.com - Harmony Cochlear Implant by Advanced Bionics

From: Med-EL
MED-EL Cochlear Implants :: Symphony of Technology
Click to expand...


Man, those prices seem astronomical to me, and ya don't get no "blue-light" specials on em'. (kmart term) I really don't know how people can fit them into their budge, seriously, with the cost of living getting so high. I hope the technology will get better, and then the prices start to come down. but, with every new technology, when it first comes out, it is usually way more expensive than when it has been out for a while.

Are any of the batteries interchangeable, or is it like some car parts that have to have dealer parts, and dealer tools to work on them? I guess there is no such thing as a generic aisle..:) I would agree though, that benefit is worth the cost, it just seems like a really outrageous amount to come up with... Like what if your income goes down for some reason,,, Most people can cut back on things like entertainment and stuff, but how do you cut back on battery use?

All new info for me. I new that you had to replace batteries alot, and I heard they were expensive, but I had no clue how much. Thanks for the info. I will be praying that the cost comes down. Does insurance cover any of it, like they do a wheel chair repair or something?
 
dreamchaser said:
Man, those prices seem astronomical to me, and ya don't get no "blue-light" specials on em'. (kmart term) I really don't know how people can fit them into their budge, seriously, with the cost of living getting so high. I hope the technology will get better, and then the prices start to come down. but, with every new technology, when it first comes out, it is usually way more expensive than when it has been out for a while.

Are any of the batteries interchangeable, or is it like some car parts that have to have dealer parts, and dealer tools to work on them? I guess there is no such thing as a generic aisle..:) I would agree though, that benefit is worth the cost, it just seems like a really outrageous amount to come up with... Like what if your income goes down for some reason,,, Most people can cut back on things like entertainment and stuff, but how do you cut back on battery use?

All new info for me. I new that you had to replace batteries alot, and I heard they were expensive, but I had no clue how much. Thanks for the info. I will be praying that the cost comes down. Does insurance cover any of it, like they do a wheel chair repair or something?
Click to expand...
From: Cochlear;
Insurance support

From: Advanced Bionics;
BionicEar.com - Harmony Cochlear Implant by Advanced Bionics
 
I use rechargable batteries on my CI and you can get a adapter to use AA battery for the CI if your nowhere near electric to recharge the the batteries like at camping ground etc.

But I have a car charger as well too so I can charge my CI battery in car or on my camper battery or on solar panel.


.
 
TechBill said:
I use rechargable batteries on my CI and you can get a adapter to use AA battery for the CI if your nowhere near electric to recharge the the batteries like at camping ground etc.

But I have a car charger as well too so I can charge my CI battery in car or on my camper battery or on solar panel.


.
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that is so cool that they are advancing so much with the technology to make it portable and stuff. I am hoping the costs will come down some day. thanks for the post:)
 
Does insurance cover any of it, like they do a wheel chair repair or something?
Click to expand...

I've always paid for my own HA batteries, but my CI batteries are rechargable (do the AB implants even have a non-rechargable option, other than the PowerPak?), and my insurance covered that.

In contrast, it's a constant battle with my insurance company to get my wheelchair expenses covered, whether it's purchasing a new one or repairing an old one.
 
If I buy 300 batteries from batteries plus for appro about $90.

Batteries are used in 3's so at $90 the price would be about $.90 per set. a set can last anywhere from about 2 days (some may be less then that) to about a 7 or 8 that I can normally get. If in a 365 day year you are changing batteries every other day you end up changing them about 182 times. multiply that by 3 and you will need about 2 times as many as I do. so if it costs you $1.80/2days you might have to not eat at the cafeteria as much or forgo a dinner out.

In the end it's really not that much of an expense, if need be I'd just get one less diet pepsi out of the pop machine at work or some other such thing. It could be I've been purchasing batteries for years for HA's (mine and my daughters) and just concider it to be a necessary expense. I don't feel the CI companies owe me batteries. Batteries are availble through different sources so I am not stuck with the CI company. Now the cables and such are a speicality thing so when my personal listening cable needs to be replaced I will have to fork over much more then it is probably worth. Oh well, the company does need to have enough revenue to pay it's workers and come up with new options. :)
 
neecy said:
I pay for batteries out of my own pocket, but I feel its a small price to pay for being able to hear again. I get the 300 pack from Cochlear for $190 and that lasts me about 7 months, as I go through 3 batteries every 2 days with my Freedom. I'm hoping they might come out with a longer-lasting battery in the future. I don't have the $ to go rechargeable at the moment.
Click to expand...

If you getting just two days with the throwaway batteries you may not even be able to get a full day with the rechargeable battery before recharging it again. My bigger concern is insurance after the three year warrantee expired. Cochlear is now changing $600 for a one year wear and tear service contact.
 
Boult said:
From: Cochlear;
Insurance support

From: Advanced Bionics;
BionicEar.com - Harmony Cochlear Implant by Advanced Bionics
Click to expand...


Thanks for posting info. I have read part, and still muddling through the rest. I see that replacement for broken parts and things are covered, but I have not yet found a statemtnt about batteries, I would think that medicare covers some of those charges, but was curious if regular insurance would... I will keep reading, and maybe not have to bug you with more questions.
 
I use rechargeable batteries, but I have seen your type sold en masse on Ebay. The prices are reasonable when including shipping.
 
SCBassist said:
I use rechargeable batteries, but I have seen your type sold en masse on Ebay. The prices are reasonable when including shipping.
Click to expand...

Cool, never thought of Ebay. I guess the advertisement is true, you really can get anything on Ebay. :)
 
jag said:
If I buy 300 batteries from batteries plus for appro about $90.

Batteries are used in 3's so at $90 the price would be about $.90 per set. a set can last anywhere from about 2 days (some may be less then that) to about a 7 or 8 that I can normally get. If in a 365 day year you are changing batteries every other day you end up changing them about 182 times. multiply that by 3 and you will need about 2 times as many as I do. so if it costs you $1.80/2days you might have to not eat at the cafeteria as much or forgo a dinner out.

In the end it's really not that much of an expense, if need be I'd just get one less diet pepsi out of the pop machine at work or some other such thing. It could be I've been purchasing batteries for years for HA's (mine and my daughters) and just concider it to be a necessary expense. I don't feel the CI companies owe me batteries. Batteries are availble through different sources so I am not stuck with the CI company. Now the cables and such are a speicality thing so when my personal listening cable needs to be replaced I will have to fork over much more then it is probably worth. Oh well, the company does need to have enough revenue to pay it's workers and come up with new options. :)
Click to expand...


wow, .90 is a different price than what someone had told me. I heard it was like over $2.00 a day, and that would really add up over the years.

I don't think that CI companies owe anybody batteries or anything. I was just thinking out loud that it would be nice if there were a resource out there to help if someone was struggling with the cost, kind of like a slush fund. I know that a lot companies do give-a-ways and stuff cuz it gets them free PR. I was just thinkin outloud, and apparently I ended up typin it... :) I was kind of lookin at the gas prices and the grocery costs that are goin up so fast, and the though occurred to me that the extra money spent on those things could really effect someone who may not have the money put back to buy batteries. I see people out here everyday who are laid off, and their unemployment doesn't pay enough to barely survive on, and sometimes their unemployment wears out too. Batteries are a neccessity for CI users, not a luxury. I wonder if they are tax deductable like some other health care costs are.

I can remember when my mom was on Social Security and she had to chose between eating and medicine. It was a true story.
 
dreamchaser said:
wow, .90 is a different price than what someone had told me. I heard it was like over $2.00 a day, and that would really add up over the years.

I don't think that CI companies owe anybody batteries or anything. I was just thinking out loud that it would be nice if there were a resource out there to help if someone was struggling with the cost, kind of like a slush fund. I know that a lot companies do give-a-ways and stuff cuz it gets them free PR. I was just thinkin outloud, and apparently I ended up typin it... :) I was kind of lookin at the gas prices and the grocery costs that are goin up so fast, and the though occurred to me that the extra money spent on those things could really effect someone who may not have the money put back to buy batteries. I see people out here everyday who are laid off, and their unemployment doesn't pay enough to barely survive on, and sometimes their unemployment wears out too. Batteries are a neccessity for CI users, not a luxury. I wonder if they are tax deductable like some other health care costs are.

I can remember when my mom was on Social Security and she had to chose between eating and medicine. It was a true story.
Click to expand...

I am also curious how you can get CI replaced if you cause the damage and it is not a mechanical fault from the company. Someone told me once that if you got hit in the ear, it could damage your internal CI parts. I don't know if that is true. But the company isn't responsible if you have an accident or something, so they would not be obliged to pay for any new part if it was an accident. And warranties last how long? Can you get extended warranties?
 
SCBassist said:
I located an example, click here
Click to expand...

cooool. Ebay can be a God send sometimes.

Do you play bass? I used to, rarely anymore, play 12 string and six. I used to write songs and was in a band way back when... it seems like a millenium ago... 1994- 8 The mini skirt just doesn't look the same anymore... LOL... But it is cool if you do music....
 
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